World champion Lando Norris has warned that the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will present a considerably tougher test for Formula 1 drivers next year, largely because the race weekend will now feature the Sprint format for the first time. The 2027 F1 calendar, which was released on Wednesday, expands the Sprint schedule to ten events – an increase of four compared with the current season – and Monaco has been earmarked as one of the new venues to host a Sprint race. Monaco’s famously narrow, winding street circuit has never been a place where overtaking comes easily. Historically, the Sprint format has been employed on tracks that allow for more passing, but the Principality’s tight layout is arguably the most demanding venue when it comes to extracting the perfect qualifying lap.
The addition of a Sprint race therefore changes the dynamics of the weekend in a way that could catch even the most seasoned drivers off guard. Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham alongside golfer Justin Rose at the BMW PGA Championship Pro‑Am at Wentworth on Wednesday, the McLaren driver explained his thoughts on the new arrangement. "Interesting," Norris began, before outlining the practical implications.
"The main thing is that you now have FP1 and Sprint qualifying on Friday – that’s the challenge." He continued, "Usually you have three one‑hour practice sessions spread over the weekend to get a feel for the circuit, especially on a place as twisty and unforgiving as Monaco where any mistake is heavily punished. With the Sprint format, you’re forced to compress all of that set‑up work, data gathering and driver acclimatisation into a single 60‑minute session." Norris highlighted how this compression could affect driver performance. "You don’t have as much time to build up a rhythm, so you’ll probably have to take a bit more risk earlier on. In a normal weekend you can spend a couple of days fine‑tuning the car and finding the limits at a comfortable pace.
Here you’re forced to push sooner, and in Monaco, once you push past the limit, it’s game over – you’re likely to hit the wall or lose a lot of time." He added, "That’s more about relying on data from this year, but it’s definitely tougher for us as drivers. You have to decide whether to stay a little back and be safe, or go all‑out early and hope the car holds together.
It creates a bigger spread between drivers who can adapt quickly and those who need more time to settle in." The British driver also noted the potential upside for spectators. "It’s more exciting for the fans and the people watching," he said, suggesting that the heightened uncertainty could make the weekend more engaging for a global audience. Norris’s comments come on the back of his own success at Monaco.
He secured a dominant victory from pole position in the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, a key part of his championship‑winning campaign. That experience gives him a unique perspective on how the new format could reshape strategies on the tight street circuit. From a technical standpoint, teams will now have to rethink their approach to car set‑up and tyre management.
Traditionally, Monaco’s qualifying session is a high‑stakes, all‑or‑nothing affair because the race itself offers few overtaking opportunities. With a Sprint race added, teams must balance the need for a qualifying‑fast setup with the durability required for a short, high‑intensity race on Saturday. This could lead to compromises in aerodynamic choices, suspension settings, and even fuel loads, as engineers attempt to optimise performance for two distinct objectives within a single weekend.
Moreover, the reduced practice time could amplify the importance of simulation work and data analysis. Drivers and engineers will likely lean heavily on virtual modelling, historic telemetry, and on‑board sensors to extract as much information as possible from that single hour on track. The ability to translate that data into actionable adjustments will be a decisive factor in determining who can extract the maximum performance from their cars.
The broader F1 community has mixed feelings about the expansion of Sprint events. Proponents argue that the additional race adds excitement and offers fans more on‑track action, while critics worry that it could dilute the prestige of the traditional Grand Prix format.
In Monaco’s case, the stakes are particularly high because the circuit’s unique character already makes it a marquee event on the calendar. Adding a Sprint could either enhance its allure or undermine the classic weekend structure that purists cherish. Norris’s insights also hint at a potential shift in driver psychology. The pressure to perform immediately, without the usual build‑up of confidence that comes from multiple practice sessions, may favor drivers who are naturally aggressive and adaptable.
Conversely, those who rely on a methodical approach to fine‑tune their car over several days might find themselves at a disadvantage. Looking ahead, the 2027 season will kick off with a triple‑header of races from 24 to 26 September, beginning with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, which will also be held on a Saturday. Fans can follow the live action on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
As the calendar unfolds, all eyes will be on how teams and drivers adapt to the new Sprint‑heavy schedule, and whether Monaco’s historic streets will live up to Norris’s prediction of a "tougher" and more thrilling showdown for the sport’s elite.