Max Verstappen has reiterated his opposition to F1’s sprint race format as the grid prepares for its return at the Lusail International Circuit this weekend. The 26-year-old has the chance to claim the World Championship during Saturday’s sprint.
Verstappen has been very vocal in his opposition to the sprint race format ever since the changes were introduced for the 2021 season, while also admitting that the refined system of 2023 is an improvement on the initial proceedings.
After a relatively dramatic sprint race in Belgium, the latest edition of the F1 Sprint could be a defining moment in the sport’s history. If Verstappen can finish in sixth place or higher then he will become the first driver ever to clinch the World Championship on a Saturday.
Addressing his concerns with the format, Verstappen said: “I always keep saying that once we do a sprint race you get the big picture anyway for the main race, so you know more or less which cars are going to be really good in the race or the ones that are going to drop back.
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“So it takes away the excitement, from when I remember I was a fan and outside of the F1 world, that sense of you don’t know which car is particularly amazing in the long runs, or have they nailed the race set up?
“You watch qualifying and you say, ‘Wow, OK, but it might be that one car is in front but will drop back in the race’. The result is unclear and then you wake up for the Sunday race and you see it all unfold, but because of the sprint race, it takes that away. So if nothing happens and they don’t crash then they are going to win the race.”
While Verstappen has been vehemently opposed to the introduction of more sprint races on the calendar, this is not necessarily the opinion held by his competitors. When asked about the changes earlier season, Lewis Hamilton was positive in his response.
“Absolutely,” he answered when asked if he welcomes the sprint races. He continued: “It’s definitely difficult to just have one session where you probably get like 20 laps and then straight away you have to qualify, but that’s what we’re here to do, right?”
These comments were supported by Esteban Ocon, who said: “It’s exciting. It’s cool to have more racing, [a] more exciting weekend, but maybe not every weekend. That would be something to look out for.”
