Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing. 30.03.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 3, Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Preparation Day.
Ex-Formula 1 race winner Ralf Schumacher states the sport would continue to prosper even in the absence of reigning World Champion Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, who retains a bumper contract with Red Bull through to the end of 2028, has repeatedly issued that he could plan to walk away from F1 at the end of his current deal.
The chances of the Dutchman walking away by the time he turns 31 have been increased by his vocal disdain for planned alterations to include two qualifying sessions on sprint weekends.
Having already publicly shared that he was not a fan of the revised weekend format, Verstappen believes further changes are bordering dangerously on prioritising the show over the sport.
“I hope there won’t be too many changes, otherwise I won’t do it. I won’t be here for long,” he declared when the plans were first speculated.
Schumacher says he sympathises with Verstappen’s displeasure at the current direction the sport is heading in, drawing on a multitude of complaints that were issued about the number of restart procedures conducted last time out in Australia.
“I agree with him on that point,” he told Sky Deutschland. “It’s a huge burden for the driver.
“We saw the consequences in Melbourne when you try to do too many starts.”
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing in qualifying parc ferme. 01.04.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 3, Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Qualifying Day.
Verstappen’s swift rise to becoming the first successful F1 driver from the Netherlands prompted the return of the Dutch Grand Prix to the calendar in 2021 after a 36-year absence.
Even before he was crowned World Champion Verstappen had long been established as one of the most popular names in the sport, with fans flocking all over the world to support him since his arrival in 2015,
His status has continued to exponentially grow since becoming a two-time winner and the Red Bull star is scheduled to have grandstands exclusively dedicated to his fans at six events this year.
However, Schumacher, 47, is confident Verstappen’s departure would not decrease the attraction of the sport to spectators, citing Bernie Ecclestone’s removal in 2017 as an example of F1 continuing to flourish in the absence of household figures.
“The past, the present and the future have shown or will show that Formula 1 is much bigger than any one individual,” the former six-time F1 victor explained.
“Bernie Ecclestone is also gone and without him Formula 1 wouldn’t even exist – and yet now it’s more successful than ever,” Schumacher added.
“So Verstappen should either pack up and leave or just accept it as it is. But I do understand his attitude because there are a lot of risks. But still, he gets paid to do it.”
He added: “Again, if he wants to go, then he should go. As much as I love him, it won’t kill Formula 1.”
Keyword: F1 would continue to prosper without Verstappen – Schumacher