Verstappen joins Sebastian Vettel in third place on F1’s all-time winners’ list [Gary A Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters]
Max Verstappen reiterated his strong disapproval of the F1 Sprint format after winning in Sao Paulo. The reigning World Champion dominated in four out of the six Sprint races during the season, securing second place in the remaining two.
Max Verstappen has reiterated his dislike for Formula 1 Sprint races, believing the whole format is simply designed around making “as much money as possible.”
Verstappen dominated the Sao Paulo Sprint for his fourth win from six events in the season in comfortable fashion after passing pole-sitter Lando Norris into Turn 1, seeing out the 24 laps without a serious challenge.
The Red Bull driver has been a fierce critic of the format, preferring the normal Grand Prix weekend of three practice sessions, qualifying and then the race itself, with changes in the offing around the structure of a Sprint weekend.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed talks are ongoing with F1 about moving the Sprint Shootout to Friday with the Sprint itself on a Saturday morning before Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday afternoon.
But despite the possibility of changes, Verstappen remains steadfast in his opposition to Sprints.
Max Verstappen on dislike of Sprints
“Just a normal race weekend, please, thank you,” Verstappen told media including RacingNews365 and eurosportplux.com when asked what changes he’d like to see.
“I’m not interested in any changes – I don’t like it [the format].”
Later, speaking with Viaplay, the triple World Champion went further, believing the motive behind Sprints was simply money.
“They just do whatever they want. I think it’s just making stuff up because they don’t really know what to do out, instead of just keeping it normal,” Verstappen explained of F1’s rationale behind Sprints.
“That bothers me anyway. Why does the sport suddenly have to be different? Other sports don’t change their rules all the time either. I don’t get all that. It’s all about making as much money as possible. I don’t like it at all.”
