Max Verstappen has offered his measured response to the
Revisions to the Formula One Sprint structure for 2024 were recently put to a vote, and Max Verstappen has responded calmly, calling them “more logical” than the previous version.
The “parc ferme” rules that accompanied last year’s format drew a lot of criticism. Following Friday’s first practice, they locked a car configuration, leaving teams to wing it and eventually carry any foolish tweak across the rest of the weekend.
In response, the 2024 format implements a new timetable.
Fridays will include free practice and sprint qualifying. Saturday’s action will begin with the sprint race, and Sunday’s event qualifying will take place later in the day.
This gives teams the much-needed flexibility they need: after the sprint race, parc ferme may be reopened, giving everyone the chance to review data and modify preparations in light of lessons learned from the 30-minute frenzied dash.
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This creates opportunities for strategy and prevents drivers from being penalized for early setup decisions that may not be suitable for the entire grand prix distance.
The F1 Commission approved the updated structure earlier this month, and on February 28th, the World Motorsport Council is poised to formally approve it.
At Red Bull’s 2024 vehicle unveiling last Thursday in Milton Keynes, Verstappen told the reporters, “I think it’s a bit more logical, I would say, with how the format is formed.”
“Well, to be honest, I don’t find winning a sprint or competing in these kind of events to be more exciting, but it is, I think, a little more rational.
Beyond the idea of adding a quick race to the weekend’s schedule, Verstappen’s primary complaint with the format was the limitations placed on setup by the parc ferme. The adjustments were appreciated by the Dutchman.
Indeed, he continued, “I think that’s a little better.” Sometimes you become trapped and realize that there’s nothing you can truly do to save your weekend. Thus, it will undoubtedly assist somewhat.
A Saturday Sprint will be held in 2024 in China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar.