Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, has warned that the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will present a significantly tougher test for drivers when the Sprint race format is introduced next year. The 2027 Formula 1 calendar, which was released on Wednesday, adds ten Sprint weekends to the schedule – an increase of four compared with the current season – and Monaco’s iconic street circuit will host a Sprint for the first time in its history. Monaco’s narrow, winding layout has long been famous for its scarcity of overtaking opportunities.
Historically, the Sprint format has been employed on circuits where passing is more feasible, but the principality’s track is arguably the ultimate challenge for any driver when it comes to extracting the absolute limit in qualifying. The addition of a Sprint race therefore reshapes the weekend’s structure in a way that has never been seen on these streets before. Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham, alongside golfer Justin Rose, during a pro‑am event at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Norris explained his thoughts on the new format. “Interesting,” he said, before elaborating on the practical implications.
“The main thing is that you now have free‑practice 1 and the Sprint qualifying on Friday – that’s the real challenge. Normally you have three one‑hour practice sessions to get a feel for the track, but now everything is condensed into a single 60‑minute session.” In the traditional Monaco weekend, drivers benefit from three full practice sessions to fine‑tune the car’s setup, learn the rhythm of the circuit, and build confidence on a track where a single mistake can end a race. With the Sprint format, the entire preparation – from aerodynamic tweaks to tyre management – must be squeezed into a single hour.
Norris pointed out that this compression forces teams and drivers to rely heavily on data gathered from the current season, leaving less room for trial and error. He continued, “It’s obviously tougher for us as drivers. You don’t have as much time to build up to things, so you’re probably going to have to take a little more risk earlier on.
Normally you can see a difference between drivers who are comfortable and those who push a bit beyond the limit. In Monaco, when you push past the edge, it’s game over.” Norris highlighted that the reduced preparation time means drivers will need to make quicker decisions about car setup, tyre pressures, and aerodynamic balance.
The lack of multiple practice runs eliminates the luxury of testing incremental changes, meaning that any misjudgment could have a pronounced impact on both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix on Sunday. He added, “You’re going to have to rely on data from this year, which makes it more challenging.
It’s a situation where you might have to gamble a little earlier in the weekend, because there’s less opportunity to refine things later.” The champion also noted the potential upside for spectators. “It’s more exciting for the fans and the people watching,” Norris said, acknowledging that the heightened pressure and the need for early aggression could produce more dramatic on‑track action, even on a circuit traditionally known for its procession‑like races.
Norris’s comments come after his own success at Monaco, where he secured pole position and went on to win the 2025 Grand Prix during his title‑winning campaign. His experience on the tight, unforgiving streets gives him a unique perspective on how the Sprint format could alter the dynamics of the race weekend. Beyond the immediate implications for Monaco, the broader shift toward more Sprint events reflects Formula 1’s ongoing effort to diversify the weekend format and increase fan engagement.
By adding four extra Sprint weekends to the 2027 calendar, the sport aims to create more moments of high‑intensity competition, while also challenging teams to adapt their engineering strategies and drivers to new rhythms of competition. For the drivers, the key takeaway from Norris’s remarks is clear: preparation will become a race against the clock, and the margin for error will shrink dramatically on Monaco’s unforgiving layout. The combination of a single practice hour, a Friday Sprint qualifying, and the traditional Sunday race means that teams must be meticulous in data analysis and decisive in setup choices.
Those who can extract the maximum performance from limited track time will have a distinct advantage. Fans can look forward to a weekend where the usual three‑day buildup is replaced by a high‑stakes sprint that could set the tone for the rest of the race.
The excitement generated by this format change could also attract new viewers, as the intensity of a shortened weekend creates a more condensed narrative that is easier to follow for casual audiences. As the 2027 season approaches, all eyes will be on Monaco to see how the new Sprint format reshapes one of the sport’s most storied events.
Norris’s insights suggest that drivers will need to embrace a more aggressive approach earlier in the weekend, balancing the fine line between pushing the limits and preserving the car for the decisive moments on Sunday. The experiment promises to deliver fresh drama on the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, offering both a test of skill for the drivers and an exhilarating spectacle for the global fan base. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, part of a triple‑header weekend from September 24‑26, will continue the live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with the Baku race taking place on a Saturday. Viewers can stream the action via NOW, with flexible subscription options that allow cancellation at any time.