Max Verstappen has voiced caution regarding the recent proposals to overhaul Formula 1‘s race format, stressing the importance of maintaining tradition within the sport. His remarks follow comments by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who suggested shortening race distances, increasing the frequency of sprint races, and drawing inspiration from MotoGP to attract a younger audience. Verstappen F1 format changes remain a key topic as the sport debates how to balance innovation with preserving what fans and drivers value most.
F1 leadership suggests trimming race durations and expanding sprint races
Stefano Domenicali has proposed a number of potential adjustments aimed at evolving Formula 1’s weekend schedule. He expressed concern that current race lengths might be too lengthy for younger viewers and indicated the possibility of introducing a sprint race to every event weekend. These ideas include experimenting with reverse grids and altering the conventional race format to make the sport more engaging and marketable.
“In a few years there will be demand to have all weekends with the same format,”
Domenicali said, highlighting a vision of consistency in weekend structure that could standardize fan expectations and enhance broadcast appeal.
Verstappen questions necessity of dramatic weekend format changes
When asked for his opinion on these suggestions, Max Verstappen was quick to voice his reservations. He expressed satisfaction with current race lengths, which typically range from one and a half to nearly two hours, dismissing the notion that reducing race times would automatically improve excitement.
“No, I mean, you all know how I think about sprint races, but the length of the race, I think it’s fine. I mean, yeah, sometimes one and a half hours, sometimes closer to [two]. In other sports as well. Sometimes you have an exciting game, sometimes absolutely boring and you fall asleep.”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
“That’s sport for you. You cannot always make it exciting, because if it’s always exciting, it becomes boring, too.”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Focus on competition balance over structural alterations, Verstappen suggests
The Dutch driver argued that rather than restructuring the weekend format drastically, attention should be given to improving the competitiveness of the field. Verstappen claims that closer team performance naturally leads to more entertaining racing and unexpected outcomes.
“Because then you know that a lot of changes are happening, but that’s also not always how you want to see it. It always needs to be a surprise. Sometimes it can be surprisingly exciting, sometimes it can be surprisingly boring.”
He acknowledged that from his perspective, maintaining competitiveness should be the priority and expressed that the overall season performance is currently stable, aside from some outliers.
“So from my side, I’m probably more of a traditional guy. I think it’s more important that all the teams are closer, because then you get more racing anyway. But in general, if you look at the season, if you take McLaren out of it, it is not too bad.”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
“It’s just that the following with these cars again is becoming a bit of a problem. So that’s why sometimes you are stuck again in a DRS train or whatever.”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Understanding the reasoning behind proposed changes
Despite his conservative stance, Verstappen acknowledged the business incentives and fan engagement goals driving the proposed reforms. He validated the need to keep Formula 1 appealing to spectators, particularly those attending live events where practice sessions may seem less captivating.
“Yes, I see the positives. People are making more money. But for me personally, I’ve talked about it many times. You know my opinion about it. But I also understand why they do it. To also make it a more exciting product on the day.”
He explained that while practice remains crucial for teams, fans might find it tedious to watch, hence the push for more on-track action during race weekends.
“Because I can understand when fans come to the track, it’s of course more exciting to see cars race than just lap around in practice. For us, it’s still very important to have practice. But I understand from a fan’s point of view that it can be a bit boring.”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Verstappen urges cautious evolution rather than radical overhaul
Max Verstappen concluded by emphasizing that Formula 1 has endured as a sport since the 1950s and agreed that while evolution is natural, there should be limits to how far changes go, especially regarding sprint races, which he already considers extreme.
“But F1 has been like this since the ’50s. So I understand that sports evolve and stuff like that. But we shouldn’t go too crazy. I think a sprint race is already, from my side, crazy enough.”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Implications for Formula 1’s future and fan engagement
The debate over Max Verstappen F1 format changes highlights how the sport faces tension between tradition and modernization. While the leadership seeks to innovate to appeal to a broader audience and maximize revenue, leading drivers emphasize the importance of competitive balance and preserving the core essence of racing.
Going forward, bridging these perspectives will be critical for Formula 1 to grow sustainably while satisfying fans, drivers, and teams alike. Verstappen’s views suggest that reforms should proceed carefully, focusing on close competition rather than wholesale structural modifications.
