Max Verstappen has urged F1 to make major change to race calendar

The 2026 Formula 1 calendar had been set to continue the trend of hosting 24 races across its season, taking place across 39 weeks in a packed campaign, and now Max Verstappen has urged for a major change to this schedule.

While this had been the plan, the Grand Prix weekends in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the United States and Israel’s war with Iran.

This led to a hiatus of F1 action in the season across the month of April, allowing drivers to take time away from the race track or to explore other opportunities behind the wheel of a car.

Lance Stroll was one driver from the current F1 grid that took to the race track in another event, as he competed in the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard.

Another driver that took part in an event away from the F1 track, while not in April but in May, was Max Verstappen as he competed in the Nurburgring 24 Hours.

Now the four-time world champion has made clear his intention to take part in the Spa 24 Hours but only if it does not clash with his F1 commitments, with the two events taking place this weekend.

Verstappen is driving the #3 Mercedes-AMG car at the Nurburgring Nordschleife (Image: Getty)

The Dutch driver will be fighting for his first Grand Prix victory of the season in Austria this weekend for Red Bull, but he has admitted he will be keeping a close eye on Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Chris Lulham, who were his Mercedes teammates in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, as they take part in the endurance race at the classic Belgian track.

Verstappen said: “I'll try to watch as much as I can.

“The car is, of course, racing with the drivers, so I am very much involved. Of course, I wish that I could race in Spa as well. I told them already for next year it would be ideal that they can schedule it outside of a Formula 1 weekend, but yeah, let's see.

“Spa is an amazing track – a 24-hour race with only GT cars is something very special.”