World champion Lando Norris warns that the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will present a significantly tougher test for Formula 1 drivers, largely because the race weekend will now feature the Sprint format for the first time. The 2027 calendar, which was unveiled on Wednesday, expands the number of Sprint weekends to ten – an increase of four compared with the current season – and includes the iconic streets of Monaco as one of the new venues for this shortened race format. Monaco’s narrow, twist‑filled circuit has never been renowned for overtaking opportunities; historically, the Sprint race has been employed on tracks where passing is more feasible.
Yet, the Principality’s circuit is arguably the most demanding venue in the sport when it comes to qualifying, as the margins for error are razor‑thin and a single mistake can end a driver’s weekend in an instant. Adding a Sprint race to such a demanding environment means that drivers will have to adapt their preparation and strategy in ways they have never had to 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, the McLaren driver explained his thoughts on the new format. "Interesting," Norris began. "I guess the main thing is that now you have FP1 and 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 test is that you only get one practice session straight away, which has probably never happened before in Monaco." Under the current regulations, drivers normally enjoy three one‑hour practice sessions spread across Friday and Saturday, giving them ample time to find a rhythm, test different set‑ups, and build confidence on the unforgiving street layout. In Monaco, where the walls are close and the track is lined with barriers, any mis‑judgment is heavily penalised.
With the Sprint format, that preparation window collapses into a single 60‑minute session, forcing teams and drivers to compress a great deal of data collection, tyre testing, and aerodynamic fine‑tuning into a fraction of the usual time. Norris elaborated on how this compressed schedule will affect driver performance.
"That’s more about relying on data from this year," he said. "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.
Normally you can see a bit more of a difference between people who can get comfortable, try things and be at 99 percent, and not push to 103 or 104 percent because in Monaco when you go to that limit, game over." In other words, the limited practice time will force drivers to make bold decisions sooner rather than later, testing the limits of their cars and their own confidence at a stage of the weekend when they would normally still be gathering information. The pressure to extract maximum performance in a single session could lead to a wider spread of lap times, with some drivers finding a sweet spot quickly while others may struggle to adapt, potentially shaking up the starting grid for both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix. Norris also highlighted the entertainment value of the change.
"It’s more exciting for the fans and the people watching," he added, suggesting that the heightened uncertainty and the need for early aggression could produce more dramatic moments on track, something that could attract a broader audience to the sport. The McLaren driver’s comments are particularly poignant given his personal history with the circuit. Norris clinched victory at the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position in 2025, a triumph that formed a key part of his championship‑winning campaign. His experience of mastering the circuit’s intricacies gives his perspective added weight, as he knows firsthand how delicate the balance between aggression and caution must be on the narrow streets.
Looking ahead, the introduction of Sprint races across a larger portion of the calendar signals a strategic shift for Formula 1, aiming to deliver more action-packed weekends and to keep viewers engaged throughout the three‑day event. While the format has been praised for adding excitement on circuits where overtaking is feasible, its application to Monaco raises fresh questions about safety, fairness, and the impact on driver development. From a technical standpoint, teams will need to rethink their approach to data acquisition. With only one practice hour, engineers will have to rely heavily on simulation tools, historical telemetry, and rapid‑feedback loops to optimise car set‑up.
The usual iterative process—testing a configuration, analysing the results, making adjustments, and retesting—will be compressed, demanding a higher level of precision and coordination between drivers and engineers. Strategically, the Sprint race itself will award points to the top finishers, meaning that a strong performance on Friday could have a tangible effect on the championship standings. Drivers who excel at extracting performance quickly may gain an early advantage, while those who typically improve over the course of a weekend may find themselves at a disadvantage. Fans can look forward to a weekend where every lap counts.
The traditional three‑day rhythm—practice, qualifying, race—will be altered, with the Sprint qualifying session on Friday effectively replacing the second practice session. This means that drivers will have to adapt their mental preparation, learning to hit the apex of performance almost immediately after stepping onto the track.
Overall, Norris’s assessment paints a picture of a Monaco Grand Prix that will be more demanding, more unpredictable, and potentially more thrilling than ever before. The combination of a single, high‑pressure practice session, the added Sprint race, and the inherent challenges of the street circuit promises to test the limits of driver skill, team strategy, and engineering ingenuity. As the 2027 season approaches, all eyes will be on Monaco to see how the sport’s elite respond to this new paradigm, and whether the increased risk early in the weekend will indeed translate into a more exciting spectacle for fans worldwide.