Max Verstappen Complains About Latest FiA Change Ahead Of The Saudi Arabian GP
Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, expressed his skepticism towards Formula 1's new qualifying format that will be trialed in the upcoming 2023 season. The news of a new test was revealed only a few weeks ago ahead of the beginning of the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the sport's top driver doesn't like what he's been told.
The current Q1, Q2, and Q3 format will stay within the test, but the focus will now shift toward the tires used during the qualifying rounds. Each qualifying run will use a different tyre, with Q1 running hards, Q2 mediums, and finally, Q3 will run on softs. This seems strange as grip levels will start very low at the beginning of qualifying. And while this may improve the spectacle for viewers, it doesn't quite make sense from a sporting point of view.
Verstappen, who currently sits at the top of the Drivers Standings with an excellent win at the Bahrain Grand Prix, stated that this new format does not serve any purpose. He emphasized that the priority should be to ensure that the field is tightly packed to create an exciting qualifying round. The Dutchman added a lighthearted comment about the weather condition in Imola and expressed his doubt about the change's benefits.
“I hope it’s not going to be cold in Imola, otherwise it’s going to be tricky!” he joked with Planet F1.
“I don’t think we need to actually do these kinds of things in qualifying. I don’t really see the benefit of it.
“It’s better if we make sure that all the cars are close to each other and more competitive, instead of spicing things up in that way, which I think is yeah, probably for the show.”
His teammate, Sergio Perez, also agreed that this new format is primarily intended to enhance the showmanship of the sport. He argued that there is no need to change a format that already works well, especially considering the close competition witnessed in Bahrain's qualifying rounds:
“Yeah, I just think it’s for the show,”the Red Bull driver said. “I think we don’t need that.
“When you see the qualifying we had [in Bahrain], how close everything was, you don’t really need to change anything.
“We’ll see once we try it, but I don’t think there’s a need to change something that is working well.”
Formula 1 has experimented with several qualifying formats in the past, and this new trial will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows. However, Verstappen and Perez's skepticism highlights the need to prioritize the sport's competitiveness over entertainment value. Ultimately, the goal is to provide thrilling races that will leave fans on the edge of their seats, and a tight qualifying field is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.