The Dutchman, who has by no means been a fan of the dash guidelines, is about to clinch his third world championship title in Saturday’s occasion in Qatar.
The dash weekend guidelines put vehicles beneath parc ferme circumstances following FP1, which signifies that groups can’t make modifications for important race qualifying, the shootout, the dash, and Sunday’s grand prix.
In Qatar, an enormous change in circumstances after the afternoon daylight FP1 session into the night qualifying session provides to the problem.
“It’s robust,” mentioned Verstappen. “Additionally it is very heat on the observe at evening. In fact, it cools down a bit however no matter you do in FP1 it’s nonetheless not clear for qualifying, so it makes it more durable and a little bit of a bet and guessing to make the proper name.
“Which for me is a disgrace, as a result of on this observe it might be superb to have a number of apply classes to arrange the automotive properly and be totally comfy going into qualifying, for everybody to essentially get the perfect out of it. However that’s how it’s, they selected to do it right here.”
Verstappen conceded that getting it proper in FP1 on Friday shall be essential.
“It’s by no means going to be easy for anybody, however for those who hit the bottom operating and the automotive feels superb then nice, good,” he mentioned. “However it is extremely uncommon it seems like that after one session.
“However once more, it’s too scorching, and into qualifying it’s totally different circumstances, so it makes it a correct guessing sport. We may be comfortable after FP1, however then what would we do for qualifying? As a result of it’s a lot colder and the stability and every thing modifications.
“So there’s a lot that it’s a must to get proper, and a few groups shall be higher than others. I hope that we’re on the higher facet.”
Verstappen made clear that his dislike of sprints extends to the influence on followers.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB19
Picture by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
“I simply choose the traditional racing format,” he mentioned. “I believe it’s extra thrilling, and particularly for qualifying you’ll be able to go extra to the restrict as you realize extra what you’ve executed in apply.
“For instance, in Suzuka for those who do FP1 there and go straight into qualifying you threat having greater shunts and it isn’t as fulfilling.
“I all the time preserve saying that after we do a dash race you get the large image anyway for the principle race, so you realize kind of which vehicles are going to be actually good within the race or those which might be going to drop again.
“So it takes away the thrill, from after I bear in mind I used to be a fan and outdoors of the F1 world, that sense of you don’t know which automotive is especially superb within the lengthy runs, or have they nailed the race arrange?
“You watch qualifying and also you say, ‘Wow, OK, but it surely may be that one automotive is in entrance however will drop again within the race’.
“The result’s unclear and then you definitely get up for the Sunday race and also you see all of it unfold, however due to the dash race it takes that away. So if nothing occurs they usually don’t crash then they’re going to win the race.”
Requested if drivers ought to have a say in such format modifications, he indicated that he doesn’t count on to be listened to.
“I voice my opinion and I’ll all the time accomplish that,” he mentioned. “Freedom of speech. It’s in all probability additionally not of their pursuits to take heed to what the drivers say as they need to spice it up a bit, and perhaps promote extra tickets.
“I have a look at it from the pure racing facet, however I perceive the business facet and causes behind it. So it’s a must to take it from each methods, and naturally I perceive why they tried to spice it up.”