F1: Verstappen feels Sprint Races ruin the intrigue of Sunday, says never to Indy 500

Max Verstappen has made various remarks regarding his dislikes for F1 Sprint Races, but on Thursday at the Azerbaijan GP Autosport got him to explain in more detail his thought process.

Asked by Autosport if he would really walk away from F1 because of sprint races, Verstappen said: “I think I always said that even if there won’t be any more sprint races, if we keep expanding the calendar and the whole weekend is that long, at one point you question yourself – is it worth it?

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 27, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

“I do like racing. I do like winning. I know that, of course, there is the salary and everything, and you have a good life. But is it actually a good life?

“I think sometimes you get to a point in your career where maybe you want to do other stuff. I have the contract until the end of 2028 and then we’ll review again, but I do feel that if it’s getting at one point too much, then it’s time for a change.”

“This sounds very weird for people from the outside because they’re like, ‘oh, you’re in Formula 1, you’re winning!’ And probably I would have said the same when I was in their position.

“But once you’re in it, it’s not always how it looks like or how people think your life is. I mean, yes, it’s great, it’s amazing, and I can do a lot of things. I’m very independent. But there is always a limit to certain things.”

“Probably F1 looks at it from a business point of view,” he said. “I understand the sprint races, they probably add a bit more excitement, but then I look at it from the racing point of view.

“And I’m like, ‘well normally, when you then do the sprint races, lap one is exciting, a few shunts here and there, damage, blah, blah, blah, and safety car, a bit more excitement.

“But then throughout the race, you get quite a clear picture of what is happening, and who is the quickest, so then you also have quite a clear view on what’s going to happen the next day.

“That probably takes a bit the shine away from the main event, which I think always should be the special event.”

“Some people just love racing and that’s the only thing they know and the only thing they want to do,” he said.

“I am probably a bit more in the middle. I mean, I do love racing. But I also want to do other kinds of racing. And then you can’t combine the two or set up other kinds of stuff.”

No IndyCar for Verstappen

“I like watching IndyCar,” he said. “I think there are a lot of great drivers in there and also people I raced against, so I have a good connection with them. And I like seeing them do well.

“But me driving the Indy 500? Absolutely not. I might go there and watch, but not race.”