Max Verstappen Compares Liberty Media’s Formula One to WWE

Earlier, Formula 1 floated the idea of introducing a reverse-grid qualifying race for the coming seasons. However, it received a number of negative reviews from all of the Formula One drivers. One of them was Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who dubbed it “artificial and fake.”

For the 2020 season, the Liberty Media-led F1 will trial a sprint race for a select number of Saturdays. Th results of those races will decide the starting grid for the grands prix on Sunday.

The sprint race grid will consist of the drivers lining up in reverse order of the championship standings. The primary idea was to let the front-running cars fight their way through the field.

Max Verstappen compared the ridiculous idea to the scripted world of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Speaking to his official website: “Us drivers had a meeting with the Formula 1 owners. We spoke a lot about what we want as drivers.”

“Nothing has been decided but we don’t want something like American wrestling were everything is artificial and fake. We made clear that is not what we want.”

“I think qualifying is good the way it is. I wouldn’t know how to change it.”

However, he did admit that the 2021 regulations was a significant positive note, which the drivers liked. He noted that the current cars would be three seconds per lap slower that the 2021 cars, and three seconds is a huge margin in F1.

Max Verstappen was also dead against levelling the playing field in F1 completely. According to him, it would detract from the DNA of the sport.

He concluded, “Formula 1 became popular because manufacturers took each other on. It is also good for the development of road car technology.”

“It’s good PR for Mercedes if they beat Ferrari and for Red Bull Formula 1 is marketing. But it would be good to make it a bit more even but not completely.”