Max Verstappen threatens to quit F1 if organisers make big changes ahead of Australian Grand Prix

He may be aiming for three world championships in a row and enjoying a life of cruising at the top of the grid, but Max Verstappen has threatened to quit F1 if the organizers insist on messing with the ‘DNA’ of racing.

After securing pole position in his Red Bull once again at the Australian Grand Prix, the 25-year-old Dutch superstar said he didn’t think it would be ‘worth it’ for him if F1 organizers continue to push for more speed races.

The next race, in Azerbaijan, will feature the first of six speed events for this season, among a host of other adjustments that F1 organizers have been continually making.

There has also been talk of removing one of the free practice sessions on a Friday on the race weekend and replacing it with a second qualifying session.

But Verstappen has none of that.

Verstappen, pictured with long-term partner Kelly Piquet, said he is not a fan of all the changes F1 organizers are considering to an already packed calendar.

The Dutch star suggested that Formula One would be better off condensing the weekend and only racing on Saturdays and Sundays.

“I’m not a fan of the (proposed changes) at all,” an enthused Verstappen said after securing pole position for Sunday’s race at Albert Park, ahead of the two Mercedes.

“But also, I think when we’re going to do all those kinds of things, the weekend becomes even more intense and we’re already doing a lot of racing.”

‘So I think it’s not the right way to do it. I understand, of course, that they want to have basically every day exciting, but I think maybe it’s better to just cut down on the weekend, just race Saturday and Sunday and make those two days exciting.”

Verstappen, who finished first in the season opener and second to teammate Sergio Perez in Saudi Arabia, later sensationally declared that he would eventually resign if the changes were made, because “it wouldn’t be worth it.”

Verstappen doesn’t like the idea of ​​including more sprints, saying it goes against the DNA of the sport.

“We’re heading into seasons where you have 24 to 25 races at a time, because that’s where we’re heading, and if we then start adding even more stuff, it’s not worth it to me anyway.” I’m not enjoying that,’ she declared.

The Red Bull star, one of the most prodigious talents of a generation, said it wasn’t just the hectic schedule.

The son of former F1 star Jos Verstappen said the sprint format was not in F1’s ‘DNA’ and therefore not so much about racing skill.

“For me, a sprint is about surviving, it’s not about competing,” he said.

‘For me, when you have a fast car, there is nothing to risk. I prefer to keep my car alive and make sure I have a good race car for Sunday.

“And even if you change the format, I don’t think it’s in the DNA of Formula 1 to do this kind of sprinting.

“F1 is all about making the most of qualifying and then having an amazing Sunday, good long distance racing.

“That’s the DNA of the sport and I don’t understand or don’t know why we should change that because I think the action has been good.”

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull will start the Australian Grand Prix on pole after passing qualifying

He says the best way to make racing more exciting is to close the gap between the best and worst teams on the grid.

As he looks for a likely third drivers’ championship in a row, Verstappen said the best way to make the races more exciting was to close the gap between the teams at the top of the grid; and those of the midfield or the rear.

“The way to get even more action is to bring the cars closer together, to make it so that more teams can fight for the win,” he said.

And I think naturally the show will be great. If we have six, seven teams already fighting for a win, that would be crazy. So you don’t really need to change anything.