One practice session, then qualifying. That is what Max Verstappen proposed on the P1 with Matt and Tommy podcast. Arrive on Saturday morning, one free session, qualifying, race on Sunday. I did the same last night in Genk. No Friday, no data, just me and the cockpit.
He also wants less information before the Grand Prix. So I switched off the telemetry. No delta on screen, no ghost. You drive by ear. Odd at first. Then you hear the engine.
What spoke to me most was his point about the fast corners. According to him, the 2026 engine rules have reduced the challenge of qualifying and the reward when you commit in the fast stuff. He was one of the main critics of those rules and even threatened to quit F1. A deal provides for a move to 58-42 in favour of the combustion engine in 2027, then 60-40 in 2028.
I redid Pouhon in single-session mode. No recon, one attempt. In the sim, that’s flat out, after three preparation laps. With one session, I came in too cautious and lost three tenths right there. The unmodelled variable was doubt. It’s not in the menus.
He says he understands that F1 has to monetise three days. I monetise nothing, but my Friday night is free now.
“A free Friday is availability. The team takes note.”
Right, in real life there are too many variables. But if you remove a session, you add racing. In theory.
It’s true, we checked: Nextgen-Auto · Formule 1.
