Norris agrees with Verstappen: 'Still not a fan of the sprint'

Lando Norris, like Max Verstappen, has also said he is not a fan of sprint racing. However, he does think the new sprint format to be introduced in Baku, with only one free practice, is progress.

On the last weekend of April, Formula 1's long break will finally come to an end with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This weekend will also see the first of a total of six sprint races to be held in 2023. This is the first time a sprint race will be held on the streets of Baku.

Norris on the new format

For the race weekend in Baku, the sprint format has been changed. There will now be only one free practice and two qualifying sessions: one for the sprint race and one for the race on Sunday. In 2021 and 2022, there were still two free practice sessions on a sprint weekend, but as the second free practice was already subject to parc fermé rules, many drivers felt that this practice made little sense.

"Honestly I prefer that to be honest with you,” Norris said about the sprint format to Motorsportweek.com. “I like the FP1 and straight into something serious. FP1 into qualifying, that nature of it I do love. It puts me under pressure, puts drivers under pressure a bit more, the engineers under a bit more pressure. We get straight into action, straight into a demanding scenario.”

Norris on sprint racing

Yet the McLaren driver is still not a fan of sprint racing. "I’m still not the biggest fan of sprint races to be honest, I still love the build-up of a Sunday and all of the pressure on a Sunday, qualifying on a Saturday," with which Norris contradicts himself a bit. According to Norris, his ideal weekend is one free practice on Saturday followed by qualifying and then the race, of course, on Sunday.