'At Least Bit More Logical': Verstappen Comments On Sprint Format Changes

Monday, 19 February 2024 at 16:15

Updated at Monday, 19 February 2024 at 17:06

Max Verstappen shared his opinion on recently announced changes to the Sprint Weekend format that will come into effect starting this season.

Sprint weekends have been introduced to Formula 1 to provide more on-track action for F1 fans and consequently increase the attractiveness of the sport as a whole.

However, as multiple drivers and team principal complained, it needed an improvement from what it was in seasons 2021-2023. Consequently, a few slight changes have been put into place going into 2024.

Firstly, the order of the weekend has been rearranged. In a previous order, the weekends went as follows: FP1 and Qualifying on Friday, Sprint Shootout and Sprint race on Saturday, and Grand Prix race on Sunday.

The new order will be FP1 and Sprint Shootout on Friday, the Sprint race followed by Qualification on Saturday, and the Grand Prix race stays as it was on Sunday.

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This allows F1 to introduce changes to parc ferme. Previously, the teams would have to lock their car setups after the first practice session on Friday and drive the same car for the rest of the weekend.

But now, there will be two parc fermes. The first one will be in effect from the end of the first practice session until the end of the sprint race. The second one will be in effect from the start of qualifying until the end of the weekend.

While these changes should address some of the concerns raised, Max Verstappen told the media during the recent launch of RB20 that it doesn't change his previous perspective.

"I think it’s a bit more logical, I would say, with how the format is formed. I mean, for me I don’t get more excited by winning a Sprint or fighting for these kinds of races, but yeah, at least a bit more logical I would say."

The Dutchman previously asserted he didn't like the growing number of races and would get rid of sprints entirely if it was in his power.

The triple World Champion also said he didn't get excited from winning a Sprint race nearly as much as he did from winning a Grand Prix race. In relation to parc ferme changes specifically, he said:

"Yeah, I think that’s a bit better. Sometimes you get stuck, and you know that your weekend is ruined, you can’t really change anything. So for sure, it will help a bit."