Three-time F1 champion Verstappen has been particularly outspoken and critical of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, which he reckons is “99% show” and “1% a sporting event”.
He also said comparing a circuit that incorporates the famous Strip to an historic street track like Monaco is to compare the flagship “Champions League” football competition with the “National League”.
The Red Bull driver - who was third fastest in qualifying but will line up second for the race with Carlos Sainz serving a 10-place grid penalty - also believes the series must do more to sell motorsport to the fans that are attending races rather than allowing concerts and other entertainment to hog the attention.
He said: “When I was a little kid, it was about the emotion of the sport what I fell in love with and not the show of the sport around it. As a real racer, that shouldn’t really matter.
“A Formula 1 car on a street circuit doesn’t really come alive. It’s not that exciting. I think it’s more about proper racetracks. When you go to Spa, Monza, these kinds of places, they have a lot of emotion and passion.
“Seeing the fans there, it’s incredible. When I jump in the car there, I’m fired up. I love driving around these kinds of places.”
Source: Autosport