World champion Lando Norris is warning that the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will pose a considerably tougher test for Formula 1 drivers once the Sprint race format is introduced next year. The 2027 calendar, unveiled on Wednesday, adds ten Sprint weekends to the schedule—four more than the current season—and for the first time the Principality’s iconic street circuit will host a Sprint event. Monaco’s narrow, winding layout has never been celebrated for overtaking opportunities; in fact, it is widely regarded as the ultimate qualifying challenge in the sport. The addition of a Sprint race, which traditionally thrives on circuits that allow drivers to make up positions quickly, creates a paradox: a venue where passing is scarce will now also feature a shortened race that puts extra pressure on qualifying and practice.
Norris explained the implications during a chat with Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham and golfer Justin Rose at the BMW PGA Championship Pro‑Am at Wentworth. "Interesting," the McLaren driver 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, but the real test is that you only get one practice session before you have to nail everything. That has probably never happened before in Monaco." Under the current format, drivers benefit from three one‑hour practice sessions spread over the weekend. Those sessions allow teams to fine‑tune the car’s setup, collect data, and help the driver build a rhythm on the demanding, wall‑flanked circuit where a single mistake can end a weekend.
With the new schedule, all of that preparation must be compressed into a single sixty‑minute window. Norris highlighted how this will force teams and drivers to rely heavily on the data gathered from the 2026 season. "That’s more about relying on data from this year," he noted. "Obviously it’s 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 difference between people who get comfortable, try things and stay at 99 percent, and those who push to 103 or 104 percent. In Monaco, when you push to that limit, it’s game over." Norris went on to point out that the heightened risk factor could make the event more exciting for spectators. "It’s more exciting for the fans and the people watching," he added, suggesting that the blend of limited practice and a high‑stakes Sprint could deliver a more dramatic spectacle.
The British driver’s comments carry extra weight because he won the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position in 2025, a key victory in his title‑winning campaign. His experience of mastering the circuit’s tight corners, elevation changes, and unforgiving barriers gives him a unique perspective on how the Sprint format might alter the traditional rhythm of a Monaco weekend. To understand the broader implications, it helps to look at how Sprint races have been used elsewhere.
In recent years, the Sprint has typically been introduced at circuits with ample overtaking zones—such as Silverstone, Spa‑Francorchamps, and Austin—where drivers can recover from a poor qualifying result. Monaco, by contrast, offers almost no passing lanes; the race is often decided before the first lap, and qualifying performance is paramount. By reducing practice time, the Sprint format could amplify the importance of the initial qualifying session, making every tenth of a second even more critical.
From a technical standpoint, teams will need to adjust their approach to car setup. With only one hour on track, engineers will have limited data on tyre degradation, fuel loads, and aerodynamic balance specific to the street circuit’s unique demands. They may lean heavily on simulation tools and the wealth of telemetry collected during the previous year’s races. Drivers, meanwhile, will have to extract maximum information from a single stint, focusing on braking points, corner entry speeds, and the delicate balance between downforce and drag that is essential for Monaco’s slow, twisty sections.
Strategically, the Sprint race itself—typically a 100‑kilometre dash—will introduce a new element of risk management. In past Sprint events, drivers have taken bold moves to gain positions because the points on offer are modest but can be decisive in the championship.
In Monaco, where overtaking is rare, a driver who makes a mistake in the Sprint could find themselves stuck at the back for the Sunday race, with little opportunity to recover. Norris’s observation that drivers may need to “risk a little bit more earlier” reflects this dilemma.
A more aggressive approach in the limited practice could yield a better setup, but it also raises the chance of errors that could compromise the entire weekend. Conversely, a conservative strategy might preserve the car but leave the driver under‑prepared for the high‑pressure Sprint qualifying. Fans are likely to appreciate the added drama. The combination of a single practice session, a high‑stakes Sprint qualifying, and a race where the margin for error is razor‑thin promises a weekend full of tension.
The excitement could translate into higher viewership numbers and more engagement on social media, aligning with Formula 1’s goal of making the sport more accessible and entertaining. In summary, Lando Norris believes that the introduction of the Sprint format to Monaco will fundamentally change the weekend’s dynamics. The reduction from three practice sessions to just one compresses the preparation window, forcing drivers and teams to lean heavily on existing data and to adopt a more aggressive mindset early on. While this presents a significant challenge—especially on a circuit where precision is everything—it also promises a more thrilling spectacle for fans, as the stakes are amplified from the very first lap.
The upcoming 2027 Monaco Sprint will be a true test of adaptability, skill, and nerve for the entire grid.