Jan Lammers is not necessarily against sprint races in Formula 1, but thinks it is mainly an addition out of novelty. Sprint races would be particularly interesting for the younger generation, so that every day of a race weekend is a spectacle. Lammers thinks Friday is sleep-inducing, he tells NOS.
On the other hand, the sporting director of the Dutch Grand Prix is ​​more a fan of the usual format. “I am one of the generation that thinks that such a Grand Prix builds up to the race on Sunday. Here, however, the rejuvenating target group with more moments of tension in a weekend is met. Compare it to the Champions League in football, with two match days per week. It’s getting more, not less. Formula 1 is also heading in that direction.’
However, it is a fact that there are sprint races. Lammers thinks it is a good thing that something is done to make Friday more exciting. ‘That Friday is always sleep-inducing. Bringing qualifying for the race there immediately puts you on the edge of your seat. But I still have the feeling that the sport is moving more and more towards entertainment.’
“Now if you take pole for the sprint race on Saturday, it’s nice for the scrapbook”
For Lammers, a pole position is ‘a real thing’. “Now if you take pole for the sprint race on Saturday, that’s nice for the scrapbook, but it’s really only about one pole: the one for the race on Sunday.” Whoever qualifies fastest on Friday afternoon will be awarded pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix. That’s just not quite comfortable for Lammers.
“But I also have that with DRS, the system with the folding rear wing to promote overtaking,” the former Formula 1 driver continues. “Someone can say that he overtakes Max Verstappen with DRS, but I would like to see that without it. Again, I understand that the younger Formula 1 fan is being considered. But personally I have to get used to it.’
