Max Verstappen leads calls to stop F1 bosses copying Moto GP rules
Max Verstappen is against the idea of organizing sprint races every weekend. The moto series announced last week at each round in 2023 will include an additional sprint race held after qualifying on Saturday. For the first time, Formula 1 held three in Italy, Great Britain and Brazil last season.
The trend has continued this year and two have already taken place in Imola and Austria, and Sao Paulo will once again host the last sprint race of the season. Verstappen has had some success in the new format, winning both sprints so far in 2022.
However, he is not a fan of the concept and hopes the sport does not follow in MotoGP's footsteps. "I wouldn't like that," he admitted. "I just don't like it. I think the emotion and feeling on Sunday has to be special. It's the only time you race. That's how I grew up racing. racing, anyway: Sunday is the day to run.
"Anyway, so far from the sprint races we've had, not much has changed drastically in terms of results. More or less everyone starts on the same tire and that's where that you end up because you're scared of crashing or whatever because [then you] start at the back for the main race where the big parts are. Everyone's also kind of like, " ok, just make sure we finish the race without any problems". So that's not really what you want."
RIGHT NOW:
Some of the 24-year-old's colleagues agree, with Valtteri Bottas also not wanting a calendar full of sprint events, but wanting to see fewer training sessions on race weekends. "I don't think we need to have sprints every weekend," he said. “But just less practice.
“Right now, whether I choose sprint or not, I would say sprint just because we are immediately in action on Friday.” AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda is also not convinced that F1 should do the same as its MotoGP counterparts.
"I don't think there's an advantage every race weekend to doing sprint qualifying," said the Japanese star. "Sprint qualifying is kind of a special thing to have rather than just doing every race weekend and that's why sprint qualifying is sometimes fun to watch.
NOT TO MISS
"It's not like we want to see it every time, I think. Especially [with] this busy and tight schedule. So I think we don't need to have so many qualifications sprint in Formula 1."
Verstappen has issued a warning to his F1 rivals as the sport is set to return from its summer break with the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, a track he considers his favorite as he is trying to cinrease his elad to the top of the driver standings.
"It's my favorite track, so I'm looking forward to racing there this weekend," said the Dutchman. "Looks like there might be some rain which will complicate things, but luckily as a team we like a challenge."
Max Verstappen is against the idea of organizing sprint races every weekend. The moto series announced last week at each round in 2023 will include an additional sprint race held after qualifying on Saturday. For the first time, Formula 1 held three in Italy, Great Britain and Brazil last season.
The trend has continued this year and two have already taken place in Imola and Austria, and Sao Paulo will once again host the last sprint race of the season. Verstappen has had some success in the new format, winning both sprints so far in 2022.
However, he is not a fan of the concept and hopes the sport does not follow in MotoGP's footsteps. "I wouldn't like that," he admitted. "I just don't like it. I think the emotion and feeling on Sunday has to be special. It's the only time you race. That's how I grew up racing. racing, anyway: Sunday is the day to run.
"Anyway, so far from the sprint races we've had, not much has changed drastically in terms of results. More or less everyone starts on the same tire and that's where that you end up because you're scared of crashing or whatever because [then you] start at the back for the main race where the big parts are. Everyone's also kind of like, " ok, just make sure we finish the race without any problems". So that's not really what you want."
RIGHT NOW:
Some of the 24-year-old's colleagues agree, with Valtteri Bottas also not wanting a calendar full of sprint events, but wanting to see fewer training sessions on race weekends. "I don't think we need to have sprints every weekend," he said. “But just less practice.
“Right now, whether I choose sprint or not, I would say sprint just because we are immediately in action on Friday.” AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda is also not convinced that F1 should do the same as its MotoGP counterparts.
"I don't think there's an advantage every race weekend to doing sprint qualifying," said the Japanese star. "Sprint qualifying is kind of a special thing to have rather than just doing every race weekend and that's why sprint qualifying is sometimes fun to watch.
NOT TO MISS
"It's not like we want to see it every time, I think. Especially [with] this busy and tight schedule. So I think we don't need to have so many qualifications sprint in Formula 1."
Verstappen has issued a warning to his F1 rivals as the sport is set to return from its summer break with the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, a track he considers his favorite as he is trying to cinrease his elad to the top of the driver standings.
"It's my favorite track, so I'm looking forward to racing there this weekend," said the Dutchman. "Looks like there might be some rain which will complicate things, but luckily as a team we like a challenge."
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