Sergio Perez Slams FIA And F1 Over New Racing Format: "Get All The Drivers In A Fight"

Sergio Perez has joked about the FIA and F1 taking the entertainment factor of races too far after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez has hit out at the FIA and F1 Management for changing the format of the race weekend to favour the excitement of the fans watching.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix hosted the first sprint race of the 2023 season this weekend and was also the first of the new sprint race format. Friday consisted of free practice one and the qualifying session which determined the race line-up for the grand prix on Sunday.

Saturday then became a stand-alone day with nothing affecting Sunday's grand prix. The all-new sprint shootout, a shorter version of the standard qualifying format, took place in the morning. The results decided the line-up for the sprint race later in the afternoon. 

The Mexican driver has criticised the FIA for focussing on the entertainment, despite taking the win at both the sprint race and the grand prix. During an interview with media, Perez joked:

“It was fast and furious.

“It won’t be long before they put a [wrestling] ring in the middle of the track and get all the drivers in a fight. It was enjoyable though.”

Perez has closed the gap to his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen with just six points now separating them in the drivers' championship. 

The next round of the 2023 season will be in Miami for the first race in the United States. Red Bull has won every race so far this season so will be hoping to extend their lead in the constructors' championship, but it is now becoming unclear which driver will be put first. Verstappen is fighting for his third championship win, whereas, Perez is competing for his first.