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Vettel thinks it's "pointless" to change F1 format

11:44, 26 Jul 2018

byBobby Vincent

Sebastian Vettel believes changing the F1 race format would be "pointless" and wants the sport to look for other options.

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel fears changing the Formula One race format would not help solve any of the current problems and wishes the sport would consider other options.

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo supported the plans and said it would mean "less laps of nonsense", but Vettel disagrees with Ricciardo's claim and feels as if the current Grand Prix format in place, should be held on to.

Vettel does accept that fresh concepts and plans should be added to bring more excitement to F1, but he has asked owners Liberty Media to look elsewhere from changing race formats.

There has been rumours about the introduction of a Formula 2-esque sprint race on Saturdays and also reverse grids to try and make the races more competitive for the lesser teams with not as much financial power.

"I think the format is fine," Vettel said to Crash.net.

"I think it's wrong to look at changing the format. It's not my decision so it's a bit pointless to talk about it but I wouldn't be a fan. I think it has been like that for a long time for a reason.

"I think the 300km Grand Prix is a Grand Prix. If you should make it half, then maybe for some people then a boring race is only half as boring but that's not the way I like it.

"I think it's a challenge, it's a Grand Prix distance, when you do your first race and surprised by how long the race can be and that's a physical and mental challenge for that duration and I think it becomes a sprint race, I think it would be a different sport in a way. I wouldn't mess with the format.

"I think we need to find other ways to get excitement and get the grid together and whatever but not the format."