Sep.12 - Sergio Perez has slammed Formula 1's new sprint race format as "very boring".
Although the first trial of the novel qualifying format at Silverstone was received positively, Saturday's short race at Monza was notably less exciting.
"Apart from Hamilton's botched start and Gasly's crash, it was a procession," former driver turned German-language commentator Christian Danner told RTL.
"Unfortunately, it was more like a carnival parade," agreed Danner's colleague Heiko Wasser.
"They have to look at this format again, because the risk is too great for the drivers and therefore too little happens."
Giorgio Terruzzi, correspondent for Corriere della Sera, added: "The sprint race intrigues newbies but displeases the purists.
"It's too risky and short for the drivers to try anything.
"But F1 in general is lacking stories and humanity and that's not the fault of the format," he added.
Gaetan Vigneron, commentator for the Belgian broadcaster RTBF, commented: "The sprint race had an impact on the grid for the grand prix and the championship, but for the rest, very little about it was exciting.
"It is still in the trial phase, but I am not yet convinced by this new format. I'll wait for the next one in Brazil before making a judgement though."
Red Bull driver Perez is also unimpressed.
"I don't see the point in these races. The fans are bored and so are we," he said at Monza.
One proposal to emerge at Monza is that the grid for the sprint race should be determined by reverse championship order, with Sunday's main event determined by a standard qualifying session.
"We should not want reverse grids in Formula 1. That is something to be left for the junior categories," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff insisted.
"As it is now, though, this format offers few advantages. Nobody really takes a risk and there are few points to win.
"Let's try again in Brazil and see."
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It's just another dire American idea
Boring uninteresting waste of time & money scrap the whole idea immediately! Just my opinion.
Rick, I don't think it's just your opinion, I think a lot of us feel the same. I'm trying to understand why they bother with FP2? They've already done the Qualies, so I just can't get my head around why this practice is necessary...
Having attended, watched and followed F1 for more than 50 years, I am dismayed at the direction now taken to introduce a 'SPRINT' race and altering the qualifying system for the main event.....This is NOT F2 - Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor racing and has the ultimate, mega talented drivers. Any interference by the governing body to introduce lower class style sprint races is really the last straw as far as I'm concerned.
In my opinion, these trial sprint events this year should be scrapped for the future as it alters the whole DNA of Formula 1.
Saturday qualifying for the main race on Sunday, what a spectacle !!
Stig, it's interesting that there are very few mentions of how badly the drama and value of quali have been relegated to the scrap heap. Brawn has been quoted as saying that the decision has nothing to do with Liberty...it's he and Steph' making the call. I wonder.
I am so glad this dreadful format is getting so many dislikes I didn't like sprint when they first announced it don't like it now normal qualifying is so exciting I feel less excited on a sprint weekend because it ruins the race a bit due to already knowing what the pace is like before we have the race which spoils it so glad next race back to normal qualifying
It should go
Qualifying is just as boring as the sprint race, in my opinion they have to look at a better option for qualifying, no blocking at last seconds to have best track options
Qualifying is really exciting when it's close it can be so good
they could put a pack of green party cyclists out on the track during qualifying.it would liven things up a bit and put manners on the cyclists in no time .theyd be driving single file pronto
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