World champion Max Verstappen says F1 “doesn’t need to heal” after last year’s controversial title decision.
But the 24-year-old said there needs to be more teams fighting up front.
The Red Bull driver took the drivers’ title following race director Michael Masi’s decision not to follow procedures to restart the race.
In an interview with BBC Sport, he also said Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary was “faking rivalries” and decided not to take part.
Verstappen won last season’s final race in Abu Dhabi after overtaking title rival Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on the final lap, following a decision by Masi to restart the race early after a safety car.
but it was retired from office as race director last month as a result of not correctly applying the rules.
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“Sport doesn’t need to heal, there are these dramatic moments that are also part of sport,” Verstappen said.
“F1 is a very tough world. I think Lewis can feel the pain a little less if you’re already seven. [drivers’ titles].”
The Dutchman added that Formula 1 needs “more teams at the front, fighting for victories”.
The new season, which kicks off in Bahrain this weekend, features new car and tire designs intended to allow drivers to follow each other more closely on track and enhance the spectacle of racing.
“We’re slowly getting there. Hopefully these new regulations give us that boost and we’ll have more drivers in each team fighting. Because at the end of the day this is what we like, isn’t it?”
‘Faking rivalries’
F1 has enjoyed a boost in profile since last year’s controversial final race, new rules and the growing popularity of the Netflix series Drive to Survive, which chronicles a series of stories involving teams up and down the pitlane.
But Verstappen is one of the few key figures in the sport who has refused to participate.
“I watched two episodes, but I wasn’t that impressed. It’s just not my thing, faking rivalries.”
Part of the new series, launched last week, focuses on the struggles of McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo as he watches his British teammate Lando Norris thrive in a car he can’t quite keep up with.
“Lando and Daniel are two great people that I know, they have really great characters and immediately in the second episode it seems like they’re not very friendly with each other, and to me that’s not right and that’s why I’m not a part either.” of that”.
Although the series has been widely credited with fueling the popularity of the sport, particularly in the United States, Verstappen believes its approach does not accurately reflect what is unfolding.
“At a point [it helps to bring in audience] but that effect also wears off. I think we’re past that stage now and it’s more like a reality show in my opinion.
“Besides, it takes too long anyway. I need to focus on racing and have private time and not spend another half hour on race weekend when they need to talk to you.”
Verstappen said he was very happy at Red Bull, following the signing of a long-term contract, saying he and the team “really click” and share “the same mentality”.
But the 20-race winner said he has sympathy for the recently sacked Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, following the termination of his contract and his oligarch father’s primary sponsorship with the American team Haas.
“You always have to feel sympathy for Nikita himself: everyone, regardless of their background, works very hard from a very young age to be a Formula 1 driver.
“Of course you can have backup, but you still need talent to drive these cars in Formula 3 and Formula 2. You need to be competitive and he definitely was.”
“Right now it’s very complicated for him, but yes, let’s see, hopefully in general the world can be at peace again.”
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