Verstappen doesn't need the sprint races: He is no fan

After a week full of honours Max Verstappen can finally enjoy a well deserved holiday. Before he took some time off, the brand new world champion spoke extensively with Ziggo Sport. He talked about the sprint races that Formula 1 introduced last season.

Not a fan

After a trial of three sprint races, the FIA and Formula 1 were delighted: sprint races are here to stay, although not every weekend. Next season the number of sprint races will be increased to six, possibly including Zandvoort, Austria and Imola. Although Max Verstappen was successful in the sprint races last season - he won at Silverstone and came second at Monza and Interlagos - he doesn't really need it.

In conversation with Ziggo Sport the champion says he is not a fan of having one practice session and then qualifying. "Then it is actually always chaos because of an extra start," says Verstappen. "If you ask most drivers, they don't like it very much. I just don't like the whole format, but it is what it is."

Good for Formula 1

An increase in the number of sprint races is one of the changes that await Formula 1 next season. In 2022 cars will start that would make it easier to overtake. Verstappen says he is looking forward to the rule changes. He indicates that the cars will be slower, although of course he has only driven in the simulator. "Hopefully the racing is a bit better and you can attack a bit more. Then in the end it doesn't matter so much if you're three or four seconds slower. I also hope that a bit more teams get closer together, because that's better for Formula 1 in general."