Max Verstappen is urging the FIA to reconsider the parc fermé rules during sprint weekends, following the disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from the United States Grand Prix in October.
Despite the ongoing rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton, the Dutch driver is aligned with Hamilton on this issue.
During the race, Hamilton and Verstappen engaged in a closely contested battle, with Hamilton gradually narrowing the gap to the Red Bull driver.
Ultimately, Hamilton crossed the finish line just over two seconds behind Verstappen, showcasing an impressive performance. However, Hamilton left the race empty-handed as his Mercedes car was deemed to have an illegal ride height during a random plank inspection. Charles Leclerc faced a similar fate, being disqualified after finishing in sixth place.
The controversy surrounding the disqualifications is compounded by the existing sprint race regulations, which lock in a driver’s setup after the Friday qualifying session. This restriction prevents teams from making adjustments after the second track session of the weekend.
Verstappen discussed the possibility of having two different parc fermés on race weekends, expressing dissatisfaction with the current setup.
According to him, locking in the setup after the first practice session can be problematic, as teams are then trapped with that configuration for the entire weekend.
He cited a previous experience in Brazil where this limitation affected his team. Despite having some successful sprint weekends this year, Verstappen remained unsatisfied, particularly highlighting concerns about ground clearance in Austin.
Verstappen emphasized that teams like Mercedes and Ferrari likely did not intentionally set their cars too low, but once on the wrong track, adjustments become challenging.
He noted that the only possible reaction is through tire pressure, and if it’s too high, teams are at a significant disadvantage. In light of these challenges, Verstappen believes changes are necessary if sprint races are to continue.
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