Max Verstappen fires quit warning as F1 bosses consider more rule changes

01 April 2023 , 04:40

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Max Verstappen is not impressed by F1 bosses' tinkering with the weekend format (Image: AP)

Max Verstappen has threatened to walk away from Formula 1 if the sport's top bosses continue to experiment with the race weekend format.

The introduction of the Sprint has been the significant change in recent times, with the alternative weekend structure used at three races in each of the last two seasons. This year, the programme has been extended to six Grands Prix of the 23.

Verstappen has already made it clear he is not a fan of the short-form races and prefers the usual weekend format of qualifying on a Saturday and then the race the following day. Not only is the Sprint programme expanding, but further changes are being mooted.

The first Sprint weekend of 2023 will be in Baku at the end of April. Depending on the outcome of a vote on the subject, the second practice session could be turned into another qualifying session which would decide the grid for the Sprint, while the usual session – held on the Friday – would only affect Sunday's Grand Prix.

The proposed change comes after F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali affirmed his desire to reduce the amount of practice that teams get on race weekends in favour of more competitive sessions. But Verstappen has made it clear he is not on board with such a plan.

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"I'm happy with just the main race," he told Portugal's Sport TV. "I think that's way better for the excitement. I naturally, of course, hope that there won't be too many changes – otherwise I won't be around for too long."

Christian Horner doesn't think an Azerbaijan Sprint is a good idea (Getty Images)

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is more open to changes to the Sprint format in order to "make it more dynamic". However, he also had a complaint regarding the decision to hold the first such event of the year in Baku.

"The reality is it's absolutely ludicrous to be doing the first sprint race of the year in a street race like Azerbaijan," he told reporters in Melbourne, adding that he is "wary" of the dangers posed by a track which is high-speed and is very narrow in some places.

"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.

"But that's part of the challenge and it's part of the task that we've got. Hopefully, we can tidy up the format for the sprint races coming up, that they are bit more that they are a bit more dynamic. I know that the sporting directors have been working hard on that and hopefully we can get that that finalised."

Daniel Moxon