'Tickets or sustainability story?' Max Verstappen questions Formula 1’s commitment to sustainability over extensive travel

Additionally, Verstappen admitted that having back-to-back races in the same country or even continent would sell fewer tickets. Hence, such a spread-out calendar was also necessary to increase people’s retention of the sport. Apart from this, the 26-year-old claimed that F1 was trying to sell ‘tickets’ and not a ‘sustainability story’ to the world.

I understand that having two or three races in the same country or in the same continent [continuously] maybe sell less tickets, but at the end of the day, what are you trying to sell, tickets or the sustainability story? Max Verstappen noted.

Max Verstappen highlighted the importance of keeping the ‘die-hard’ fans engaged

F1 has constantly been growing in popularity ever since Liberty Media’s attempts. Hence, the pinnacle of motorsport has new fans with every passing day. As a result, the 26-year-old pointed out that it was a ‘difficult task’ to focus on what kind of fans the sport wanted to focus on. The two divisions of fans were based on the ‘entertainment’ side and the ‘performance’ side.

It's a difficult one because it depends on how you want to attract fans, from the entertainment side or the performance side. Max Verstappen added.

The reigning world champion added that the sport was growing in terms of popularity worldwide and more from the ‘entertainment’ side. However, F1 also had to clear out their priorities in terms of what type of fans were important. Verstappen revealed that the main reason was that F1 needed to keep the ‘die-hard’ fans at bay to ensure maximum growth of the sport.

The sport has been growing a lot lately, probably from more the entertainment side, but you also need to question what you actually want, because it's also very important to keep the real die-hard fans to be really engaged. Max Verstappen concluded.

Liberty Media’s attempts at growing F1 have been extremely beneficial. The Docuseries Drive To Survive, increasing American involvement, etc are some of the major points. Hence, the sport will continue to grow in demand in the near future. This is just the beginning of the growth of the pinnacle of motorsport.