Formula 1: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen shares against a new format

Formula 1

World champion Max Verstappen does not like to keep his opinion behind the mountain. In the past, he has often made it clear that the focus on entertainment in the premier class goes against the grain.

Much to the displeasure of those responsible for the racing series, who generate a lot of money with it. Verstappen had already rumbled against the Netflix series “Drive to Survive”, which gave a boost to the US business in the premier class.

The Netflix series “Drive to Survive” stirred up the premier class.Image: Netflix

Now the Red Bull driver shot in Baku with little restraint against the new qualifying format including sprint races. In general, he is apparently “on fire”: He also clashed with Mercedes driver George Russell in Azerbaijan.

Verstappen rumbles against entertainment in Formula 1

Before the race in Baku, Verstappen vented his anger. Does he like the new shootout pin? “I don’t see where this format should be attractive. I think it’s terrible,” he complained in one Sky-Interview.

The reigning champion also said in the direction of the FIA: “It’s all just a show. I’m a racer through and through, but this is not racing. This is pure entertainment.” And that’s not all: The 25-year-old Dutchman doesn’t like the new sprint qualifying format either.

The new format goes against the grain of Verstappen.Image: AP / Darko Bandic

The only difference between the new type of qualifying and the old one is the time. The three sessions remain intact, but the drivers have a total of only 20 minutes to set their fastest lap. World champion Verstappen is not enthusiastic about it. And that despite the fact that he is still the undisputed leader of the drivers’ standings.

Formula 1: Perez and Leclerc criticize sprint format

However, the sprint format was not only criticized by Verstappen. His teammate Sergio Perez also criticized the long break between qualifying and the race. This had to be made more effective as the drivers could not maintain their concentration for such a long period of time.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is also not happy with the format. “I don’t want this to be the standard format,” he said, advocating four sprint races per season. There are currently six.

That’s still too much for Verstappen. “It’s important that we get back to what we had.”

At Formula 1 races in Baku: Verstappen takes on Russell

Verstappen also put a strain on the mood with George Russell. The trigger: the hard overtaking maneuver shortly after the start of the sprint in Baku. In turn three, the Mercedes driver pushed past Verstappen and hit the world champion in the side.

The Red Bull’s left side box was visibly damaged, and the underbody also took some damage. In the first two corners, the two drivers were already engaged in an intense wheel-to-wheel duel, in which Verstappen slightly touched the barrier with his car.

Verstappen and Russell blame each other

Immediately after the sprint in Azerbaijan, the two clashed verbally. Verstappen’s displeasure was written all over his face, he called Russell a “moron”.

In the F1 interview he then railed against Russell again: “I just don’t understand why you have to take so much risk in the first lap. It doesn’t make sense,” Verstappen complained.

Russell apparently evaluated the scene differently. He said on the Sky microphone that the contact was “of course not intentional”. But: “I was inside and he was outside. I’m here to fight and win, so of course I’m not holding back.”

George Russell assessed the scene differently.Image: HIGH TWO / imago images

He was surprised that Verstappen held back on the outside line and saw his action as a risk that he should have reckoned with. Russell also emphasized that it would have been no different if the roles had been reversed: “If someone tries to counter it on the wing, then someone on the inside can always easily drive you in the side.”