World champion Lando Norris says the introduction of a Sprint race at the Monaco Grand Prix next year will make the already demanding event even more challenging for drivers. The 2027 Formula 1 calendar, released on Wednesday, adds ten Sprint weekends – four more than the current season – and for the first time the iconic Principality street circuit will host a Sprint.
Monaco’s narrow, twist‑filled layout has never been a hotbed for overtaking, a hallmark of Sprint events elsewhere, but it is widely regarded as the toughest test for an F1 driver when it comes to qualifying and precision driving. 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 broke down what the new format means for the Monegasque round.
"Interesting," Norris began. "The main thing is that now you have FP1 and Sprint qualifying on Friday – that’s the real challenge." He explained that traditionally drivers enjoy three one‑hour practice sessions spread over the weekend to find a rhythm on Monaco’s unforgiving circuit, where a single mistake can end a race. "Usually you have three full practice sessions to build up momentum and get the car set up for the narrow wall‑lined track," he said.
"Now you have to cram all that work into just 60 minutes." Norris highlighted how the compressed schedule will force teams and drivers to rely heavily on data gathered from the current season. "It’s more about using the data we have from this year," he noted. "Obviously it’s tougher for us as drivers because we won’t have as much time to fine‑tune the car and get comfortable." He went on to describe the strategic shift that will be required.
"You’re probably going to have to take a little more risk earlier in the weekend," Norris said. "Normally you can spend a few sessions getting comfortable, tweaking the setup and pushing the car to the limit gradually.
In Monaco, once you hit that limit you’re out – it’s game over." The British driver added that the increased pressure could actually make the spectacle more exciting for fans. "It’s more exciting for the spectators and the people watching," he said, suggesting that the heightened uncertainty will add drama to both the Sprint and the main race.
Norris’s comments come after his own success at the street circuit; he won the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position in 2025 during his title‑winning campaign. His experience on the circuit gives weight to his assessment of how the Sprint will reshape the weekend. Beyond the immediate impact on Monaco, the expanded Sprint schedule reflects a broader push by Formula 1 to inject more excitement into race weekends. The Sprint format, introduced in 2021, features a short race on Saturday that determines the grid for Sunday’s main event, and it has been praised for delivering more on‑track action.
However, critics argue that it can compromise traditional preparation time, especially on circuits where precision is paramount. In Monaco’s case, the loss of two full practice sessions could force engineers to rely more heavily on simulation work and telemetry from previous years. Drivers will need to adapt quickly, using the limited track time to perfect braking points, gear changes, and tire management on a circuit where the slightest mis‑calculation can lead to a wall‑impact.
The pressure to extract maximum performance in a single hour of practice may also lead to more aggressive setups, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failures or tyre degradation. Fans can look forward to a weekend where the Friday Sprint qualifying sets the tone, the Saturday Sprint race adds a layer of strategy, and the Sunday Grand Prix becomes the ultimate test of consistency and composure.
For Norris and his rivals, the key will be balancing the need to push early with the necessity of preserving the car for the decisive moments. The 2027 season also features a triple‑header of races in Azerbaijan, with the Baku Grand Prix taking place on a Saturday for the first time, illustrating F1’s willingness to experiment with scheduling and formats. As the sport continues to evolve, drivers like Norris, who can adapt quickly and thrive under pressure, will likely have an edge in the new era of Sprint‑heavy weekends. Overall, Norris’s assessment underscores a fundamental shift: the Monaco Grand Prix, already a jewel in the F1 calendar, will become a true sprint‑driven crucible where preparation time is scarce, risk is amplified, and the margin for error is razor‑thin.
The upcoming changes promise to deliver a thrilling spectacle for audiences while demanding unprecedented adaptability from the world’s top drivers and their teams.