Verstappen Calls For Change To Sprint Weekends: 'It's Like Circus'
F1
Max Verstappen, who openly said during the 2023 season he did not like sprint races, recently elaborated on issues he sees with the format.
Six Sprint races have been announced for the season 2024, so it is clear the format is here to stay for at least one more season. FIA president Ben Sulayem hinted some changes to the format might be coming, but nothing has been announced so far.
While many people, like Haas's team principal, see the positive side of the Sprint races, Max Verstappen identified a fundamental flaw. He told Auto Motor Sport:
"A sprint race lets you know more or less what happens the next day. Unless there are crazy circumstances. For example, due to a change in the weather."
Sprint races in Belgium, and Qatar have been one of the most exciting races this season. However, the United States Grand Prix sprint race, for example, was one of the least favorite among most F1 fans and even drivers themselves.
"Normally, you can estimate the racing pace after a sprint. I think that takes away the tension. Maybe the start will be exciting."
On a normal weekend, there are three practice sessions then one qualifying session, and the race. On sprint weekends, two of the practice sessions get replaced by the sprint shootout and the sprint race.
Many drivers and team principals agreed watching three practice sessions is a lot more boring than additional sprint qualifying and sprint races. Verstappen doesn't think additional qualifying for the sprint is necessary.
"I don't mind having only one training before qualifying. But the new qualifying for the sprint? That doesn't give me much, because we have already driven the big qualification."
Another aspect that does not increase the attractiveness of Sprint weekends is that there is not too much to fight for.
There are a lot fewer points to be gained, and Verstappen did not get the same sense of fulfillment after winning a sprint race compared to winning a Grand Prix race.
"This is the important session. In the sprint, the winner wins only eight points. The differences to the second or third are not great. It doesn't matter much."
The Sprint Shootout (qualifying for the Sprint race) also includes special requirements for tire usage to make things more interesting. However, that is just another aspect that the triple World Champion doesn't like. he added:
"I don't like the current format with medium-medium-soft. You already don't know what to do. Just a quick round? Or fast, slow, fast? Why do we need all the strange stuff? Even I wonder which rules apply now. I feel lost. It's like a circus."
It is in F1's interest to make Sprint weekends more attractive for both fans and drivers as their goal is to grow in popularity New format poses a great opportunity to make weekends more exciting.
But, it seems there just needs to be some more refining before we reach the optimal format. What do you think about Sprint race weekends?
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