Max Verstappen has taken aim at Formula 1's increasingly entertainment-driven approach to pre-race festivities, insisting Sunday's Lego drivers' parade at the British Grand Prix does little to enhance the sport's image and leaves its biggest stars looking more like children than elite athletes.
While the colourful spectacle proved a hit with many fans after its debut in Miami last year, the four-time world champion has made it clear he would happily swap the brick-built cars for the traditional parade truck without a second thought.
Ahead of Sunday's event at Silverstone, all 22 drivers are scheduled to complete the pre-race parade in individual Lego cars built from more than 28,000 bricks and capable of reaching 25 km/h.
The concept returns after its chaotic first outing in Miami, where drivers repeatedly bumped into one another, scattering Lego bricks across the circuit in scenes that quickly went viral.
Verstappen, however, sees little value in repeating the show.
"I prefer to play with Lego at home, you know, with the kids. Not on a go-kart here, to be honest,” he said.
"I prefer to stand on a truck, just with everyone together. I think that’s more fun and I think it also looks more professional."
For Verstappen, the issue goes beyond personal preference. He believes the Lego parade sends the wrong message about what Formula 1 represents.
"Because at the end of the day we are Formula 1 drivers, I think we should not look like kids and clowns trying to ram into each other,” he added.
"I don’t think that is what Formula 1 needs, but it is what it is."
Hamilton also at odds with Lego parade
Although Verstappen has criticized the concept itself, Lewis Hamilton's reservations are rooted in a different issue.
The Ferrari driver initially appeared reluctant to participate, reportedly because of concerns surrounding the sponsor-backed activation, according to The Telegraph, and the fact that drivers are required to invest more of their time in marketing appearances without being paid.
When questioned about his position, Hamilton declined to elaborate publicly.
"There is not really much to say on that. That's something I need to take offline,” he said.
Despite those comments, Ferrari has since confirmed that Hamilton will take part in Sunday's event.
As for Verstappen, fans should not expect him to recreate the playful collisions that became a hallmark of last year's parade. Instead, he plans to keep things simple and focus on the supporters lining the circuit.
"I just do my lap and wave at the fans because they deserve that, to see us. But, of course, from my side I would have loved to see it a little bit different,” he said.
Whether Formula 1 views the Lego parade as a clever fan engagement exercise or another step toward spectacle over tradition, Verstappen's verdict could hardly have been clearer.
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