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Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen has questioned the extension of the 2020 calendar to 22 grands prix - and suggested it will lead to divorces for mechanics.

Next year's schedule will be the longest in the history of F1, with Hockenheim going but Hanoi and Verstappen's own home race at Zandvoort added.

Verstappen says his main concern is for crew members, who have to spend long hours at circuits.

"I don't agree with 22 races a year," he said when asked about the calendar by Autosport.

"I think we should just pick the best tracks out there - I know they want to make money, but they also have to think about the mechanics who rock up to the track.

"They arrive Monday or Tuesday to build everything up while the big bosses arrive on a Saturday or maybe even a Saturday morning and fly even during the race back home.

"For them it's not a problem, they can easily do 30, because they're only away for three days.

"For most of the people it's at least five or six days, and then I'm not even complaining about us, it's the mechanics, they can file for a divorce straight away if there's going to be more."

Racing Point's Sergio Perez expressed similar sentiments on behalf of crew members.

"It's a lot of action," said the Mexican when asked about the 2020 schedule by Autosport.

"Not for drivers, we love racing, although it's a lot of big commitments, because we don't only have the racing, we have the simulator, sponsorship events, we have to keep fit and so on, so it's a lot - it's over the limit.

"But also for the mechanics. They're here since Monday, they leave sometimes on Tuesday, so it's already I think on the very high side for the people that work in the teams."

Perez admitted that a busier schedule was harder now that he is a family man with children.

"Yeah, I'll see if they don't divorce me!" he joked.

"We started when there were 19 races. It's a lot.

"But as I say I think for us drivers it's a lot of work, but some of the European races we are able to come early on Thursday, and so on.

"I'm more concerned for the mechanics, and engineers, I think they're the ones who are going to be quite worried.

"I doubt they will be able to have any social life at this level, so it's very hard.

"There will be a point where we might be looking to have two crews, and splitting them or something."

Provisional 2020 F1 calendar

Date Grand Prix Venue March 15 Australia Melbourne March 22 Bahrain Sakhir April 5 Vietnam Hanoi April 19 China Shanghai May 3 Netherlands Zandvoort May 10 Spain Barcelona May 24 Monaco Monaco June 7 Azerbaijan Baku June 14 Canada Montreal June 28 France Paul Ricard July 5 Austria Red Bull Ring July 19 Britain Silverstone August 2 Hungary Hungaroring August 30 Belgium Spa September 6 Italy Monza September 20 Singapore Marina Bay

September 27 Russia Sochi October 11 Japan Suzuka October 25 United States Austin November 1 Mexico Mexico City November 15 Brazil Interlagos November 29 Abu Dhabi Yas Marina





