Max Verstappen hit out at ‘stupid’ format F1 once used at Imola and it hasn’t been seen since

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Formula 1 has attempted various format changes through the years, but one they tried in 2020 left Max Verstappen upset and hasn’t returned since.

The sport was in a very different place back in 2020 when it returned for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for the first time in 14 years.

For starters, Verstappen hadn’t won a Formula 1 title yet. Mercedes were about as dominant as they had ever been at that time.

Red Bull were showing signs of good pace, but it wasn’t until the following year that they would really make a push for the drivers’ championship.

This week’s return to Italy will see Red Bull bring ‘radical’ changes for Verstappen after falling behind their rivals and finding themselves with a similar pace deficit to what they faced in 2020.

Verstappen has been told to emulate Ayrton Senna with his next move, as speculation about his future continues to swirl.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen shares one key driving trait with Michael Schumacher that has ‘misled’ Red Bull’s development

Max Verstappen once hit out at ‘stupid’ Imola rule during the 2020 F1 season

Heading into the 2020 instalment of Imola, technically Formula 1’s first-ever Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, changes were made.

Drivers were to be allowed only one practice session, rather than the usual three, in a bid to make things more exciting and give teams less time to refine their setups.

Verstappen did not like the change, and according to Autosport, had some very frank words about there being no running on Friday at all.

“At the end, it’s the same for everyone, so there is no problem with that, but I just think it’s a bit wrong,” he said.

“Give us two sessions to just sort a few things out, just make sure everything is working well instead of just one session.

“The two-day format, I don’t really care, but then give us two practice sessions. Even it’s better to do two one-hour sessions than one one-and-a-half. I think it’s a bit stupid.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen told why he should be ‘angry’ at Red Bull after realising one thing about their 2025 F1 car

What happened at the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix?

Having less practice time didn’t really end up affecting the outcome of qualifying or the race in Imola back in 2020.

Mercedes still locked out the front row and the usual candidates were still inside the top 10. Verstappen qualified third.

The Dutchman passed Lewis Hamilton off the start, until a virtual safety car allowed him to get back ahead and take the lead of the race.

Verstappen wouldn’t give up and managed to overtake Valtteri Bottas for second before an explosive puncture ended his race.

He may have challenged for the win otherwise, but the general outcome of the weekend wasn’t changed by the new format and all it did was deprive fans of more action. It was soon abandoned.