F1 News
Verstappen feels for Hamilton: 'Get rid of sprints, then DSQ won't happen'
Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has again been critical of the sprint race in conversation with Motorsport.com. Verstappen is not a fan of the format but also does not want F1 to make changes to the sprint format again.
Plans are circulating in Formula 1 for sprint races with a reverse starting grid, or even a standalone sprint championship. Verstappen sees nothing wrong with this and makes a comparison with football: "In football, they don't change the rules, it's been like that for 100 years. Why do we suddenly need to come up with other things to try and make it entertaining?" The Dutch Formula 1 driver doesn't understand why the format has to be changed all the time.
New rules are 'madness'
According to the 50-time Grand Prix winner, everything is working just fine now. Verstappen even calls it "madness" and thinks Formula 1 is coming up with new things just to come up with something new.
"I always say why do we need to try and invent something? I think our product works if you just make sure that the cars are competitive and they will stay the same for a long time," he added.
No satisfaction from sprint races
Verstappen is clear: a separate sprint championship has no meaning for him, even if he were to win. Verstappen is also not at all happy with the current format of the sprint race: "There's no satisfaction to win a sprint for me". You cross the line and say: 'All right, well, tomorrow is the race, the main one'. That's how it goes."
The Red Bull driver also returned to the disqualification of Hamilton and Leclerc in the US. According to the Dutchman, it was because of the sprint format: "I think we should just get rid of the sprint weekend and then everyone can just set up their cars normally because it wouldn't have happened on a normal race weekend," Verstappen concluded.