World champion Lando Norris believes that the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will pose a considerably tougher test for Formula 1 drivers once the Sprint race format is introduced. The 2027 calendar, unveiled on Wednesday, expands the Sprint programme to ten weekends – four more than the current season – and for the first time the principality’s iconic street circuit will host a Sprint weekend.
Monaco’s narrow, twist‑laden layout has never been celebrated for overtaking opportunities; in fact, it is traditionally regarded as the ultimate qualifying challenge in the sport. The addition of a Sprint race, which normally thrives on short, high‑intensity competition, therefore creates a unique set of difficulties for the drivers and teams. Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham alongside golfer Justin Rose at the BMW PGA Championship Pro‑Am at Wentworth, the McLaren driver explained his thoughts on the new format.
“Interesting,” Norris said. “I guess the main thing is that now you have a free‑practice session on Friday, then Sprint qualifying, and that’s the challenge. Obviously, not a lot of action happens in the Sunday race or even in the Sprint itself, but the real test is having only one practice session to get everything right, something that has never happened in Monaco before.” Under the current regulations, drivers normally enjoy three one‑hour practice sessions spread across Friday and Saturday to fine‑tune the car, develop a rhythm, and gather data on the unforgiving wall‑lined circuit where any mistake is quickly punished.
With the new schedule, all of that preparation must be compressed into a single 60‑minute window. When pressed about how this will affect the weekend, Norris added, “That means we’ll have to rely heavily on the data we collected this year. It’s definitely tougher for us as drivers because we have far less time to build up a feel for the track. We’ll probably have to take a bit more risk earlier in the session.
Usually you can spend a lot of time getting comfortable, tweaking the car, and staying at 99 percent of the limit. In Monaco, once you push beyond the edge – 103 or 104 percent – it’s game over.” He continued, “The limited practice means the margin for error shrinks dramatically.
Teams will have to make setup decisions on the fly, and drivers will need to extract the maximum performance from a very short stint. That pressure could lead to more daring moves early on, which might make the whole weekend more exciting for the fans.” Norris’ comments underline a broader shift in how the sport is approaching race weekends. The Sprint format, first introduced in 2021, was designed to add a short, 100‑kilometre race on Saturday that awards points to the top finishers and determines the grid for Sunday’s main event.
While it has been praised for injecting extra drama, critics argue that it compresses the already tight schedule and forces teams to cut corners on preparation. Monaco, with its tight hairpins, elevation changes, and proximity to unforgiving barriers, amplifies those concerns. Historically, the Monaco Grand Prix has been a showcase of driver skill rather than outright speed. Qualifying is often the decisive factor, and the race itself is a delicate balance of precision and patience.
A single mistake – running wide on the Nouvelle Chicane, locking the brakes into the Fairmont Hotel hairpin, or misjudging the tunnel entry – can end a driver’s weekend instantly. By reducing practice time, the likelihood of such errors could rise, potentially leading to a more unpredictable and thrilling spectacle. Norris himself knows the stakes well. He secured victory in Monaco in 2025, starting from pole position during his title‑winning campaign.
That win demonstrated his ability to master the circuit’s nuances, from the delicate balance of aerodynamic downforce needed on the tight sections to the raw power required for the short straight leading onto the tunnel. His experience will be invaluable as the field adapts to the new format, but even he acknowledges that the reduced practice will test every driver’s adaptability. From a technical perspective, teams will have to prioritize data collection.
Engineers will likely lean heavily on simulation tools, telemetry from the previous year, and any on‑track feedback gathered in that single practice session. The set‑up window will be razor‑thin: tyre temperatures, brake cooling, and aerodynamic balance must all be dialed in quickly.
Any miscalculation could compromise both the Sprint and the main race, as the car’s configuration for the Sprint qualifying will also influence the starting grid for Sunday. Fans can also expect a different viewing experience.
The Sprint race, typically lasting around 30 minutes, will be run on a circuit where overtaking is rare, meaning that qualifying performance and strategic pit stops become even more critical. The compressed schedule may lead to heightened tension, as drivers push harder earlier in the day to secure a strong grid position. This could result in more on‑track battles during the Sprint, as well as a more dramatic showdown on Sunday when the championship points are at stake. Overall, Norris’s assessment paints a picture of a weekend where preparation time is at a premium, risk‑taking is encouraged, and the margin for error is razor‑thin.
The combination of a historic, low‑overtaking circuit with a condensed schedule promises to deliver a unique challenge that could reshape how teams approach Monaco in the future. Whether this translates into more excitement for spectators or adds undue pressure on drivers remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the 2027 Monaco Sprint will be a landmark moment in Formula 1’s evolving format, and the drivers will need to adapt quickly to stay competitive.