World champion Lando Norris believes that the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will pose a significantly tougher test for Formula 1 drivers next year, primarily because the race weekend will now incorporate the Sprint format. The 2027 calendar, which was unveiled on Wednesday, features ten Sprint weekends – an increase of four compared with the current season – and for the first time Monaco’s iconic street circuit will host a Sprint race. Monaco’s narrow, winding layout has never been celebrated for overtaking opportunities; in fact, it is widely regarded as the ultimate proving ground for a driver’s qualifying prowess. Historically, Sprint events have been placed on circuits where passing is more feasible, but the decision to bring the Sprint to Monaco adds an extra layer of difficulty.
Norris explained his thoughts during an interview with Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham, which took place alongside golfer Justin Rose at the BMW PGA Championship Pro‑Am at Wentworth on Wednesday. "Interesting," Norris said.
"The main thing is that now you have FP1 and the Sprint qualifying on Friday – that’s the challenge. Obviously, not a lot happens in the Sunday race or even in the Sprint itself, but the real difficulty is that you only get one practice session before everything else, which has probably never happened before in Monaco." Under the current format, drivers are allotted three one‑hour practice sessions spread over the weekend to get a feel for the tight, wall‑flanked circuit, fine‑tune their car set‑up, and build confidence. Mistakes at Monaco are notoriously costly, often ending a driver’s weekend in an instant.
With the new schedule, all of that preparation must be compressed into a single 60‑minute session, forcing teams and drivers to make rapid decisions and rely heavily on data gathered from the previous year. When pressed about the implications of the shortened schedule, Norris elaborated: "That means we’re going to have to rely more on the data we collected this year. It’s obviously tougher for us as drivers because we don’t have as much time to get comfortable with the track. You’ll probably have to take a bit more risk earlier in the weekend, when you can still see a difference between drivers who can push the limits and those who stay at 99 percent performance.
In Monaco, if you try to go beyond that limit – say 103 or 104 percent – it’s game over." He added that the change could make the event more thrilling for spectators: "It’s more exciting for the fans and the people watching." Norris’s comments come on the heels of his own success at the principality; he won the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position in 2025 during his title‑winning campaign. That experience gives him a unique perspective on how the reduced practice time could affect both seasoned veterans and newcomers alike. The shift to a Sprint weekend in Monaco also raises strategic questions for teams.
With only one practice session, engineers will need to gather as much telemetry as possible in a very short window, focusing on tyre performance, brake temperatures, and aerodynamic balance. The data will have to be analyzed instantly to set up the car for both the Sprint qualifying and the main race.
Any misstep in the set‑up could be magnified on the unforgiving streets, where a single lock‑up or a misjudged line can end a driver’s weekend. Furthermore, the Sprint itself introduces a new competitive element.
While the Sprint race awards fewer points than the traditional Grand Prix, it still offers a valuable opportunity to gain an advantage in the championship standings. Drivers will need to balance the desire to push hard for those extra points with the need to preserve the car for the Sunday race, especially on a circuit where the margin for error is razor‑thin. Fans can also expect a different viewing experience.
The Sprint will be held on Saturday, meaning the traditional Sunday race will shift to a later slot, potentially altering broadcast schedules and fan attendance patterns. Sky Sports F1 will continue to cover the action live, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races from September 24‑26, and the Baku race slated for a Saturday. In summary, Norris foresees a Monaco Grand Prix that will demand quicker adaptation, greater bravery, and sharper decision‑making from drivers and teams alike.
The combination of a single practice session, the pressure of Sprint qualifying, and the unforgiving nature of the street circuit promises to elevate the stakes and deliver a more exhilarating spectacle for the global audience. The 2027 Monaco Sprint could very well become a defining moment in the evolution of Formula 1’s weekend format, testing the limits of skill, strategy, and composure in one of the sport’s most iconic venues.