Horner criticises FIA choice: 'Absolutely ludicrous'

Christian Horner is unhappy with the decision to hold a sprint race in Baku for the first time this year. Formula 1 will be in action in the Azerbaijani capital on the last weekend of April.

Baku will host the first of a total of six sprint races in 2023. For the first time in history, a sprint race will be held on a street circuit. Red Bull Racing's team boss is not happy about this decision.

Horner not happy

A sprint race will thus be held on the streets of Baku. The weekend is normally already hugely chaotic on the fast street circuit, but this year Formula wants to kick it up a notch with a sprint race and not everyone is happy about that. "The reality is it's absolutely ludicrous to be doing the first sprint race of the year in a street race like Azerbaijan," Horner said at the press conference in Melbourne.

"I think from a spectacle point of view, from a fan point of view, it's probably going to be one of the most exciting sprint races of the year. From a cost cap perspective, all you can do is trash your car. And it costs a lot of money around there. So one race is enough in Baku, the fact that we've got two, there could be well some action there."