Verstappen proposes to FIA: 'Let Grands Prix start earlier'

Max Verstappen would like it if all Grands Prix would be brought forward a bit. The European races now always start at 15:00, while in the past 14:00 was standard. To have GP's start earlier in the afternoon would be a plus according to Verstappen.

Starting GP's earlier

According to Verstappen, having a Grand Prix start earlier gives the organisers more time and more options for anticipating extreme weather conditions, such as in the Belgian GP.

"If you have a day like today, it might be better to start earlier than at three o'clock,' says Verstappen. "At twelve o'clock or one o'clock for example. Personally I would find that a better time to start a race anyway. Because today it just went on and on, while the weather just got worse and worse and at one point it started to get dark as well."

The 23-year old Dutchman let Motorsport.com He doesn't expect Formula 1 to catch up later on in the race. Apart from the fact that only stormier weather is expected later in the year, Verstappen thinks that logistically it is not a feasible option. "We already have too many races. I don't see us coming back here this year, as we already have a calendar with 22 races."

So much rain also new for Verstappen

In conversation with De Telegraaf Verstappen says he understands why the FIA decided not to release the race. "I've never experienced it as extreme as this. But I understand that no risks are taken. Certainly not with recent events in mind. It's a bummer for the fans, but you have to think about safety. That comes first. It was not possible to race like this", he concludes.