“Let’s Get Rid of Sprint!”: Jenson Button Reveals True Feelings Against FIA’s Experimental Gamble

The Sprint weekends. They were introduced in 2021 because F1 wanted to increase racing excitement during a race weekend. The more the races, the more the interest in watching live-action. Instead of having three practice sessions, why not have a few race weekends where there are two races instead of just one? Seems like a great way to increase viewership, don’t you think? That’s what F1’s plan was, and that’s the experiment it started two years ago. For some, it’s worked, and for others, it hasn’t. 2009 champion Jenson Button gave his take on Sprint races following the one at the Brazilian GP.

This season, F1 increased the number of Sprint weekends from three to six. While the format of Sprint weekends has changed since 2021, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed—Interlagos’ place in the Sprint calendar. With how the race unfolded, Button made a striking statement, one that Max Verstappen would like (or would he?).

Is Jenson Button a fan of Sprint races or not?

Max Verstappen has made it no secret that he absolutely hates the Sprint format. Despite the format changes this year, this is what he had to say: “When we’re going to do all that stuff, the weekend becomes even more intense, and we’re already doing so many races. It’s not worth it for me. I’m not enjoying that.” He’s also stated multiple times that having Sprint races takes away the mystery from the main race on Sunday. Because of Saturday’s race, everyone gets almost a clear picture of what the main race will look like. As much as that makes sense, F1 has no intention of scrapping the format. 

Coming into Brazil, the Dutchman gave his stance on Sprints once again. Instead of being his usual direct self, he decided that sarcasm was the way to go. When asked about them in the drivers’ press conference, he said, “It’s been absolutely fantastic. So much fun. I get so excited by having a Sprint again. I’m all for it.” He couldn’t have been clearer, even with his words dripping with sarcasm. Looks like Jenson Button has taken inspiration from the three-time champion to give his opinion.

Interlagos is one of the best tracks for overtaking on the calendar. Every time F1 visits it, it never fails to excite. Considering this, it’s the ideal place to host Sprint races. The 2023 edition only further attested how right it is to have Sprints in Brazil. There were overtakes left, right, and center, and they happened throughout the race. The pack stayed close and there wasn’t one dull moment. Although Verstappen did win it comfortably, everything else about it made it so interesting. Considering all the racing action that happened, Jenson Button wrote on Twitter (now X) (sarcastically), “Yeah let’s get rid of the Sprint!”

Looks like Button likes the format as much as F1 does. Even with its wide success, there have been pleas to change the format once again.

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2024 could see a new Sprint format

Before this season, a Sprint weekend had the conventional qualifying session, but it was to set the grid for the Sprint. The results of the 100km dash set the grid for the main race. What Verstappen didn’t like about the format was that it interfered with the traditional race weekend format. But the Dutchman still isn’t pleased even after the Sprint doesn’t necessarily affect the traditional format. With Saturdays entirely dedicated to Sprints now—and parc ferme coming into place on Friday itself—a few other teams have asked for a change.

One option put forth is moving qualifying back to its usual Saturday evening slot. Instead of qualifying on Friday, that could be replaced by the Sprint Shootout. And in place of the Sprint Shootout, it’ll be the Sprint. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested this in an interview with Sky Sports. As reported by Motorsport, he said, “You do the Sprint Shootout [on Friday] and then the second qualifying for the race, which would be Saturday, two o’clock is the time we know. And it would create maybe less confusion.” The FIA is already considering it for 2024. 

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Do you think the Sprint format needs changing? Are you with Jenson Button on the format, or are you on Team Verstappen, where you believe it shouldn’t exist?