Lando Norris has advised Max Verstappen to “keep quiet and get on with it” in response to the Red Bull driver’s reservations about the new Formula 1 sprint weekend format.
Verstappen has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the changes and even threatened to quit the sport earlier this year.
However, Norris believes that Verstappen should concentrate on his driving rather than voicing criticisms.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Norris said, “In a good way, Max is Max. I’m happy with doing them [sprint weekends] every now and then.
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“I don’t want the whole season to be like this… Places like this make for a more exciting weekend, and it’s for the fans at the end of the day.
“They are the people who drive Formula 1. They make Formula 1 what it is.”
While acknowledging the possibility for improvement, Norris suggested that sometimes it is better to keep quiet and embrace the challenges presented by the new format.
He expressed his preference for the demanding nature of the extended weekend, where every session holds significance.
“I prefer this challenge,” Norris remarked. “It is a very long weekend.
“Every session means something, which I think is a good thing.
“The Fridays I love. One of my strengths is getting in the car and doing well.
“From a driver’s perspective, it’s much trickier.”
Verstappen had previously criticised the sprint format back in April, expressing his disdain for the intensified schedule.
He stated, “I hope there won’t be too many changes, otherwise I won’t be around for too long. I am not a fan of it at all.
“When we do all that kind of stuff, the weekend becomes very intense, and we already do a lot of races.”
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The Dutch driver emphasized his preference for preserving the car and focusing on Sunday’s race rather than taking risks during the sprint event.
Verstappen also stated that the sprint race concept does not align with the DNA of Formula 1.
Despite Verstappen’s reservations, he will participate in four more sprint weekends later this season, including races in Belgium, Qatar, the USA (Austin), and Brazil.