Vettel joins Verstappen: "Have to find better way"

The format of the press conferences has changed in early 2022. Last season the drivers were expected in the press conference on Thursday, but now it is just hours before the first free practice. Max Verstappen already showed his dissatisfaction and now he also gets the support of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in this matter.

Last season, all teammates were posted side by side for twenty minutes on the Thursday to answer questions from the media in attendance. This year, the FIA is creating four groups of five randomly selected drivers. The news media will then have half an hour with each of the four groups on Friday morning to ask questions.

The fact that the media duties have been moved from the Thursday to the Friday is not to the liking of the drivers. The intention of Formula 1 was to relieve the drivers, so that they only had to come to the circuit for the first time on Friday and could therefore perhaps also leave home a day later. In practice, however, this does not work, as all drivers have to be present on Thursday anyway due to other marketing or media activities.

Vettel supports Verstappen

So the only result is an even busier, heavier Friday. Vettel let it be known during the Grand Prix weekend at Imola to various media. "So we need to improve. We can improve. The main thing is you want us to be excited if you have the same questions for an hour. It’s not going to be. We’ve been all been to the TV pen and basically our excitement is not at its peak. We need to find a better way."

The FIA and Liberty Media have not yet responded publicly to the drivers' complaints, but the subject will certainly have come up in the drivers' briefing. Whether anything will be done about it this season is unknown.