The story of drivers constantly complaining about the new long F1 calendar continues. Or should we say ‘driver’ instead of ‘drivers’? Max Verstappen has been the only prominent racer who has, on multiple occasions, threatened to quit F1 owing to the lengthening race calendar. His rival, Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, seems to have had enough of all of Verstappen’s moaning.

From 20 races in 2017 to 21 in 2018 to 22 in the 2021 season, and now 23 races in 2023, the FIA is expanding the race calendar and holding races in newer locations. But along with this increase in supply to match the increased demand for racing action, the working time for drivers increases and so does the toll on their mental and physical health. This has been Verstappen’s biggest concern. But more than the drivers, it is the entire support staff that has to work overtime. Highlighting that, Leclerc has taken the moral high road to laud the hidden gems of F1.

“One side of me understands that. It’s not easy when you put yourself in the shoes of Formula 1. We have a sport that’s booming, and it’s great to have that. We’re lucky to have that,” Leclerc told Autosport, as quoted by Motorsport-Total.com. “At the same time, I feel like at a certain point it just gets too much. Not for us drivers, because we have a really good life.”

Leclerc then shifted the attention away from the ‘hectic’ time that drivers have to the even more hectic time that the rest of the team has: “I think the drivers who complain are probably not aware that the mechanics, the engineers, and the logisticians are here three days before us and leave two days later. I think that’s quite a lot for them.”

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This statement from the Monegasque is bound to prick Verstappen. Along with contradicting the Dutchman’s constant complaints, Leclerc also showed a side of his statements that agrees with Verstappen’s.

Charles Leclerc expresses personal-level disappointment with the extended F1 race calendar

A simple rule of economics – the lower the supply, the higher the price. Using that in an analogy, the more limited the F1 calendar stays, the more is the thrill that arises on race weekends. Though he doesn’t agree with Max Verstappen‘s statements on drivers facing a tough time, Charles Leclerc does feel some loss of excitement when it comes to race weekends because of a more packed race calendar.

“I’m happy whenever I’m in the car, but I think that a Grand Prix still has to be something unique,” the Ferrari driver explained. “And I feel like when you have a Grand Prix every weekend, you probably lose a little bit of that special feeling that you have at every race.”

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What are your views on what a perfect Formula 1 race calendar should look like?