P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen admitted the revised Formula 1 Sprint format for 2024 was an improvement but said more weekends with Sprints
During the Chinese Grand Prix, the new race format was tested for the first time, with Sprint sessions preceding qualifying, and the Sprint race taking place on Saturday morning. This allowed for adjustments to be made to the cars before the GP Qualifying in the afternoon. Max Verstappen praised the Sprint format, finding it more straightforward, but cautioned against overdoing it due to the added stress on mechanics and team personnel. Lando Norris and Sergio Perez echoed the sentiment of limiting Sprints to lessen the strain on the team members, emphasizing the toll it takes on them with a packed race calendar. Despite some positive aspects of the Sprint format, like added pressure and unpredictability, concerns were raised about its sustainability and impact on the well-being of the mechanics and engineers in the long run. The discussion surrounding the balance between entertainment value and the welfare of team personnel continues as Sprint events will be part of upcoming races, including Miami, Austria, Austin, Sao Paulo, and Qatar in 2024.
