You can chalk up Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen as someone who isn't a fan of sprint qualifying.
As Formula One returns to the format for this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the Dutch driver said he doesn't like it because "there's no feeling with it."
"For me, I don’t enjoy the weekend format," Verstappen told reporters. "I don’t mind the one practice and straight into qualifying. For me, that’s probably better."
Sao Paulo is the third and final grand prix of the season to use sprint qualifying. The alternate format was introduced last year and consists of a 100-km (24-lap) mini-race to determine grid positions for Sunday's race. Drivers finishing within the top eight during sprint qualifying are also awarded points.
Verstappen, who clinched his second consecutive world championship last month in Japan, explained how cautious he has to drive during sprint qualifying so as not to damage the car and ruin things for the main event.
"Every time when I do these races, it’s all about, 'Oh, let’s not damage it, make sure you stay in the top three,'' he said. "For me, that's not really a race, because you go into the main race and you know there are way more points available anyway, you just risk a bit more there."
He added: “All the time when I do these races, it’s all about ‘oh, let’s not damage it, make sure you stay in the top three, and for me, that’s not really a race. I think we should just stick to one race. I don’t understand what the problem is with that.”
Formula One plans to expand sprint qualifying to six events next year.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is more open to the idea of sprint qualifying, but the Mercedes driver cautioned, "as long as they're selective of where they put it."
