Verstappen hits out at "stupid" F1 format change for Imola

Max Verstappen has described the decision to run just a single practice session on Formula 1’s return to Imola as "stupid".

F1 will return to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for the first time since 2006 in late-October.

As part of a revised format, there will be no Friday practice with a single 90-minute practice session taking place on the Saturday ahead of qualifying in the afternoon as normal.

Verstappen criticised the decision to run a single practice session due because F1 hasn’t run at Imola in 14 years.

"If we would have had it on a track that we know and we have been driving with the cars we have nowadays, I think it's not a problem at all," Verstappen said. "At the end, it's the same for everyone, so there is no problem with that, but I just think it's a bit wrong.

"Give us two sessions to just sort a few things out, just make sure everything is working well instead of just one session. The two-day format, I don't really care, but then give us two practice sessions. Even it's better to do two one-hour sessions than one one-and-a-half. I think it's a bit stupid."

Red Bull team-mate Alexander Albon says it would have made more sense to have run a two-day weekend at a venue which hosts two races, like Silverstone.

"It would to me make a bit more sense to do a two-day event on a track like [Silverstone] where we've done a double-header," Albon added. "We don't really need to do three days at the same circuit. It would be better.

"I think it would be a good idea to test it out now, and give us the three days at Imola."

Haas duo Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean admitted it will be a "big challenge" having less time to prepare ahead of qualifying. 

"In terms of Imola just being two days with just one practice session before qualifying," Magnussen said. That’s going to be a huge challenge for me as I’ve never been to the track and I will have to learn the track very very quickly. I don’t know if we will have a go in the simulator, I don’t think so. It’s going to be a challenge for sure."

"One practice session - it would definitely make our lives more challenging, making sure we are on top of the tyre, wear, how we use it, setup, also driving wise going into qualifying only having maybe one or two sets of new soft tyres into the free practice would be a challenge," Grosjean added.