Formula 1 News: Verstappen Fires Back at Silverstone over Ticket Sales Blame
Red Bull’s Formula 1 dominance has been unfairly blamed for the British Grand Prix’s struggle to sell out tickets, according to Max Verstappen. Silverstone Managing Director Stuart Pringle suggested that the Dutchman’s impressive winning streak, which included a record 10 consecutive victories, had taken the excitement out of the sport, leading to a decrease in ticket sales.
However, Verstappen strongly disagreed with Pringle’s assessment, stating that the current Formula 1 season is extremely exciting, with several teams competing for victories. The Formula 1 driver believes that Silverstone should focus on their own shortcomings rather than blaming external factors.
“I don’t think it’s my fault. This current Formula 1 season is very exciting, lately several teams have been competing for victories,” Verstappen said. “If then a promoter cannot fill all the seats and blames someone else, it is better that they first look at themselves, what they are doing wrong.”
Silverstone, which attracted a record 480,000 spectators last year, has opted to restrict overall attendees for the upcoming British GP, citing a decrease in demand. Pringle argued that the circuit is not in a position to decrease ticket prices due to the high F1 hosting fee.
But Lewis Hamilton, an eight-time winner at Silverstone, disagrees with Pringle’s stance, saying that ticket prices are too high and pricing out the average viewer. “We have to watch ticket prices,” Hamilton warned. “It’s hugely expensive and it’s too high.”
In a season where Verstappen leads the Formula 1 standings by 56 points, the debate over ticket prices and the impact of Red Bull’s dominance highlights the challenges facing promoters in the current Formula 1 landscape. Stay tuned for more Formula 1 news, including updates on the British GP and the latest Formula 1 standings.
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