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Max Verstappen blames F1 calendar demand after two drivers fall ill

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen recently addressed the immense physical toll of the current racing schedule after two fellow competitors fell sick ahead of upcoming competition. Mercedes competitor Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Cadillac racer Valtteri Bottas both sat out Thursday media engagements due to separate viral and unspecified illnesses.

Antonelli is currently preparing for a potential championship victory this weekend, while both drivers faced sudden health issues amidst a demanding series of consecutive events.

Verstappen noted that the heavy workload and inability to return home between back-to-back fixtures places significant stress on the human body, frequently resulting in exhaustion and illness among drivers and team personnel alike. The current 2026 itinerary includes 23 events following the earlier cancellation of a round due to geopolitical conflict, with further contingency plans in place for the season finale.

Verstappen emphasized that while athletes learn to manage these cycles, the intense calendar creates an inevitable demand for physical recovery.

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