Max Verstappen laments loss of classic F1 circuits: “They’re the ones that made me love racing”. Max Verstappen speaks out after Imola win.

Four in a row
On Sunday, Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive win at Imola, becoming the first driver in F1 history to achieve this feat. A record that may remain unbeaten for a long time, as the Santerno circuit is likely to disappear from the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, and it’s unclear if or when it might return to the championship schedule.

This development ties into the already confirmed exit of Zandvoort – Verstappen’s home race and naturally very dear to the Red Bull driver – after 2026, and the possible farewell of the Barcelona circuit. Even Spa-Francorchamps, the legendary track beloved by drivers and insiders, will enter a rotation system that will see it move in and out of the World Championship calendar.

The arrival of new street circuits
The ‘sacrifice’ of these historic circuits is necessary to make room for new tracks, often street circuits, such as Jeddah, Miami, Las Vegas, and Madrid, which will debut next season. Asked about the topic in the press conference after the Emilia Romagna GP, Max Verstappen expressed his opinion without hesitation, once again affirming his preference for traditional circuits.

“Losing these kinds of tracks is a shame,” said Max Verstappen. “I understand it from F1’s point of view, of course, because of the new tracks we’re going to. You have to look at it both from a sporting and financial perspective. If you want to grow the business and make it more popular, I get it. But for me personally, speaking only about the joy of driving, it’s this kind of track that made me fall in love with racing in the first place.”

“It’s the same in karting,” the reigning world champion concluded, “because in karting it’s the same thing: some tracks are more special than others. And then, of course, when you start watching Formula 1, there have always been these few circuits where you watch the speeds, you look at how hard they are to master. The sport’s history lives in certain tracks. It’s all very special and gives you something extra emotionally. So yes, it’s definitely a shame for me, but what can I do?”