Max Verstappen proposes a solution for the ‘ruined’ sprint races

Max Verstappen has been considering retirement for a long time now due to the constantly evolving sport.

Max Verstappen proposes a solution for the ‘ruined’ sprint races

Red Bull's Max Verstappen. (Via IMAGO)

World champion Max Verstappen advocates for a crucial change in F1’s sprint races, suggesting teams should have the flexibility to adjust car setups after the initial practice session. The Red Bull driver emphasizes the current limitations lead to potentially “ruined” weekends due to irreversible setup decisions.

The sprint format introduces a unique structure, featuring a 100km race with points awarded to the top eight finishers. Sprint weekends offer only one practice session, and the cars are under parcferme conditions. The removal of the traditional Saturday practice session adds pressure, as teams cannot tweak their setups as it results in grid penalties for the main race. 

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Verstappen seeks change to avoid teams stuck with unfavorable setups impact. As racefans.net quotes, the Dutchman claims, “It can be that you try sometimes – and we’ve had it in the past – that you know you make a few decisions where you think it’s going to be okay, and then it doesn’t work out and then your whole weekend is ruined because you can’t touch the car.” He adds, “I think that is a bit of a shame.” 

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Verstappen dominated the Qatar GP, securing victory, while his teammate, Sergio Perez, faced a challenging weekend. Hindered by limited preparation time, he failed to qualify for Q3 and crashed during the sprint race. In the main event, a lack of track study resulted in two five-second penalties for exceeding limits, landing him in 10th place. It was an unfortunate and forgettable performance for the struggling driver.

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Max Verstappen seeks at least a chance to repair potential mistakes during the Sprint weekends

The Dutchman asks for more flexibility during the Sprint weekends. He claims, “That’s maybe something we have to look into for the future if we want to continue doing these kinds of events.” He acknowledges that the Sprint weekends are for pulling the audiences, providing them with more action and uniqueness, but states that “at least you should be able to correct your mistake or potential mistake.”

Max Verstappen at Austrian GP press conference
Max Verstappen at Austrian GP press conference (Credits: PlanetF1)

Verstappen’s criticism of the sprint format aligns with his opposition to evolving structures in Formula 1. He has been vocal about the increasing race count and its potential impact on his career, even hinting at retirement if the sport continues to change. The unique challenges posed by the sprint weekends, as seen in the Qatar GP, underline the importance of addressing concerns raised by drivers like him. 

The F1 circus heads to Circuit of The Americas for the Austin GP next, which is also a sprint weekend. Red Bull and Verstappen have sealed both titles, and their main aim is to secure their maiden one and two in the standings. Perez is currently second and is being challenged by Lewis Hamilton for the spot. As the race weekend draws close, it remains to be seen if Max will help his teammate secure the runner-up spot. 

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