Max Verstappen slams F1 sprints, insisting they ‘aren’t really a race’ and about limiting damage
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Max Verstappen beats F1 sprints, insisting they are ‘not really a race’ and about damage control – despite winning both at Imola and Austria this year ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen has said he doesn’t think Saturday sprints are ‘really a race’
- F1 introduced the concept last season and the Dutch driver has been successful
- However, he thinks drivers are not taking any chances with the main event being held on Sunday
- Sprints will be run six times this season, in a quarter of the 2023 race weekends
Max Verstappen has criticized F1’s flirtation with sprint races on Saturday ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The two-time champion has won both sprints this season and will head into the 100km sprint at Interlagos this weekend.
But Verstappen said they were more about damage control for themselves because they are “not really a race.” The top eight drivers earn points under the format, which also confirms Sunday’s grid.
F1 is clearly a fan of sprints, with a quarter of next season’s race weekends to include them. However, the Dutch driver feels there is no need to take any risks with the main event the next day.
Max Verstappen is not a fan of the F1 sprint races that take place on certain race weekends
‘Every time I do this’ [sprint] races it’s about “taking no damage, making sure you stay in the top three,” said Verstappen.
“For me that’s not really a race because you go into the main race and you know there are a lot more points available anyway, you just risk a bit more there.
“You start again, that’s exciting, but it’s really only people who are out of position that move forward because only you put on a band that only lasts a whole stint and not much happens.”
The Red Bull star won the first-ever sprint race at Silverstone last year and has so far captured both Saturday dashes during the 2022 campaign in Imola and Austria.
The Dutch champion has so far won both 100km sprint races in the 2022 season
Despite these successes, Verstappen said the extra race is not necessary, due to the brilliance of the long GPs on Sunday.
“I don’t understand what the problem is with that, because we’ve had so many exciting races, so you don’t have to add up a third of a race distance,” he said.
“Everyone is so careful anyway, because when you’re battling for third place and you have a little tap and you fail to finish last, you know it’s going to be tough on Sunday. You probably don’t risk it, so it’s not really a race.’
After battling to the finish to claim last season’s title, Verstappen has dominated in 2022 and secured the World Drivers’ Championship for the second time at the Japanese Grand Prix last month.
Verstappen, with girlfriend Kelly Piquet, sealed his second driver’s title in Japan last month