Esteban Ocon is not in favor of plans to further expand the number of sprint races in Formula 1. He also dismisses ideas about reverse starting grids, arguing that the sport risks becoming too ‘forced’ and artificial.
“We live in a consumer society where we constantly want more spectacle. We want more races,” says Ocon. However, he warns that while more action might be commercially attractive, it also has a downside. “When I was young, I really looked forward to the next race because sometimes it could take a while. It was the absolute highlight of my week. Now we race almost every week, and we also have sprint races.”
Preserving the Excitement
Ocon acknowledges that more races might lead to higher viewing figures, but he believes that the drivers themselves do not benefit from this. “I don’t necessarily have a problem with racing more often, but I prefer to build up a certain tension towards the Grand Prix, because that’s when you enjoy it the most.”
The Haas driver emphasizes that the sport must remain a pure form of racing. “The fastest and best should win. A reverse starting grid – yes, it might be more spectacular, but it would become too artificial.” With his critical words, Ocon joins several drivers who have doubts about the direction Formula 1 wants to take with more sprint races and show elements. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are also not in favor of changing the format. The debate about the balance between sport and entertainment remains highly topical.
