World champion Lando Norris says the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will pose a far greater test for Formula 1 drivers than usual because the race will feature the Sprint weekend format for the first time. The 2027 calendar, unveiled on Wednesday, adds ten Sprint events to the schedule – four more than the current season – and Monaco’s iconic street circuit is slated to host one of those Sprint weekends. Monaco is already famed for its narrow, twisty layout that offers almost no overtaking opportunities.
Historically, the Sprint format has been employed at circuits where passing is easier, but the Principality’s tight, wall‑bounded track is arguably the toughest challenge a driver can face when it comes to extracting the perfect qualifying lap. Norris explained that the new structure will compress the usual preparation time into a single practice session, a scenario that has never been seen at Monaco before. During an interview with Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham, conducted alongside golfer Justin Rose at the BMW PGA Championship Pro‑Am at Wentworth, the McLaren driver summed up his thoughts: “Interesting.
The main thing is that you now have FP1, then Sprint qualifying on Friday – that’s the challenge. Obviously not a lot happens in the Sunday race or even in the Sprint, but the real difficulty is that you only get one practice session to get everything right, which has never happened in Monaco.” Under the current format, drivers enjoy three one‑hour practice sessions spread across the weekend, allowing them to build rhythm, test different set‑ups and learn the nuances of the circuit.
Monaco’s unforgiving nature means that even a tiny mistake can end a driver’s weekend in an instant, so teams normally spend a great deal of time fine‑tuning aerodynamics, suspension settings and tyre strategies. With the Sprint schedule, all of that work must be compressed into a single 60‑minute session, forcing crews to make rapid decisions and rely heavily on data collected from the previous year. Norris elaborated on the implications of this tighter timetable: “That means we’re going to have to rely a lot more on the data we gathered this year.
It’s definitely tougher for us as drivers because we don’t have as much time to get comfortable with the car. You’ll probably have to take a little more risk earlier in the weekend, when you can still see a clear performance gap between drivers who are just getting used to the track and those who can push the limits. In Monaco, once you exceed the limit, it’s game over.” He added that the heightened risk could make the spectacle more exciting for fans: “It’s more exciting for the fans and the people watching.” The added element of uncertainty is likely to produce a more dramatic weekend, with drivers forced to balance caution against the need to extract maximum performance in a very short window.
Norris’s own history with Monaco adds another layer of intrigue. He won the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix from pole position during his title‑winning season, demonstrating his ability to master the circuit’s demanding demands. That victory was built on a flawless qualifying performance, flawless tyre management and flawless concentration – all elements that will be under even greater pressure with the Sprint format.
The shift to a Saturday race weekend, as part of a triple‑header that includes the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from September 24‑26, also changes the rhythm of the event. The Baku race will be held on a Saturday, and the new schedule means that drivers will have to adapt to a different flow of practice, qualifying and race day activities.
For fans, the change promises a more compact and action‑packed viewing experience, with the Sprint race providing an additional competitive session that can reshuffle the starting grid for Sunday’s main event. From a technical standpoint, teams will need to optimise their car set‑up in a very limited timeframe. Aerodynamic balance, brake cooling and tyre temperature management are all critical at Monaco, where the circuit’s tight hairpins and elevation changes place extreme loads on every component.
Engineers will likely lean heavily on simulation data and the extensive telemetry gathered from the 2026 season to make quick adjustments. Drivers, meanwhile, will have to rely on their instinct and experience to find the perfect line, braking points and throttle application during that single practice hour. The Sprint format also introduces a new strategic element: the Sprint race itself, which awards points to the top finishers and determines the starting order for the Sunday Grand Prix. In a place where overtaking is notoriously difficult, the Sprint could become a decisive factor, allowing a driver who performs well in the short race to start ahead of rivals who may have qualified lower due to the compressed practice schedule.
Overall, Norris’s comments highlight the blend of excitement and anxiety that the new Sprint weekend will bring to Monaco. While the reduced practice time raises the stakes and forces drivers to take calculated risks earlier, it also promises a more thrilling spectacle for the audience, with the potential for unexpected outcomes and dramatic shifts in the championship battle. As the 2027 season approaches, all eyes will be on the Principality to see how teams and drivers adapt to this novel challenge and whether the added risk will indeed make Monaco an even more compelling event for fans worldwide.