Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have taken opposite stances on the proposal to turn the 2027 Monaco Grand Prix into a Sprint-format weekend. The announcement, made last week, confirmed that the 2027 Formula One calendar will feature ten Sprint events, up from the current six, and that Monaco will host one of these extra‑short races. Under the Sprint format, the traditional Friday schedule is replaced by a second qualifying session, followed by a 100‑kilometre sprint race on Saturday, with the main Grand Prix still taking place on Sunday. Monaco has long been recognised as one of the sport's most challenging circuits when it comes to overtaking.
Its narrow, winding streets leave little room for drivers to pass one another, which is why the governing body highlighted the addition of a second qualifying session as an opportunity for "the drivers to showcase their world‑class skill and precision on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo". The idea is to give fans an extra spectacle and give drivers another chance to prove themselves on a track where passing is notoriously difficult. Hamilton, who is currently focused on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, expressed clear scepticism. "It makes no sense to me but I'm not the one making the decisions, obviously," he said, hinting at his frustration with the direction the sport is taking.
While he acknowledged that an extra qualifying session could be "quite cool", he argued that Monaco deserves a format that is distinct from the rest of the calendar. "I've always said that Monaco needs something different.
I don't think it should be the same race formula that's everywhere else. It needs to be something different," Hamilton explained. He praised the Sprint concept for having injected fresh excitement into Formula One, but felt that applying the same Sprint model to Monaco would be a misstep. "We've already included the Sprints, which I think have really brought something new to the sport.
But I think we've got to come up with something new for somewhere like that because it's a beautiful place, such a beautiful country, an incredible circuit to drive, but the race is as dull as it gets. I don't know what that is, but a Sprint race is not the answer for it, I would say," he added. In stark contrast, Russell, Hamilton's former teammate at Mercedes, defended the Sprint addition during the FIA press conference in Baku. "I personally think it's good because we've had Sprints for quite a while, normal race weekends feel quite long‑winded and we all want to fight," he said.
Russell emphasized that the thrill of Formula One comes not only from the race itself but also from the intensity of qualifying. "As much fun as driving a Formula 1 car around the track is, the enjoyment comes from the competition and that adrenaline you get from a qualifying session. Of course the race isn't going to be the most exciting one, but that will be compensated by having a more exciting Friday.
Sprint Qualifying is way more exciting than FP2, so I think on the whole it makes sense," he argued. Other drivers have also weighed in. Max Verstappen, who has previously been a vocal critic of Sprint weekends, softened his tone this year.
In 2023 he warned that adding more Sprints could shorten his career, but he now says his stance is more nuanced. "Maybe Monaco wanted it [the Sprint], I don't know. For me, I honestly don't care where the Sprints are. I participate, and of course you try to do the best you can.
I have no emotion attached to winning a Sprint race or not winning it. My focus is always from, when I was a kid, you look forward to the Grand Prix," Verstappen explained, indicating that his priority remains the main Grand Prix rather than the ancillary Sprint.
Sergio Perez of Red Bull disclosed that he learned about the Monaco Sprint plan through the drivers' WhatsApp group and described the news as "a bit busy". He suggested that Monaco could benefit from a more varied format, noting that recent years have seen the race reduced to essentially a Saturday event with little variation.
"I think right now it can mix things around a little bit more. I think it's going to be an interesting weekend. I'm definitely looking forward to it," Perez said, showing openness to experimentation. McLaren’s Lando Norris highlighted the importance of fan input, stating that spectators should have a say in where Sprint events are held.
"If the fans have a better time then I'm happy," he remarked. Norris also hinted that the selection of venues could be improved, suggesting that some tracks are better suited to producing thrilling Sprint races than others. "I think they could have picked better races to do it.
I think there's some races that could have been picked that you could actually have an exciting Sprint race. But it's not our decision to make," he added. The broader context of the 2027 calendar shift includes a significant increase in Sprint races, moving from six to ten events. This expansion reflects Formula One’s strategy to inject more short‑format excitement into the season, aiming to attract new audiences and keep existing fans engaged.
However, the move also raises logistical challenges, especially on circuits like Monaco where the street layout leaves limited room for additional on‑track action. Monaco’s unique characteristics—its historic prestige, its glamorous setting, and its technical demands—make it a litmus test for any format change. Proponents argue that a Sprint could provide a fresh narrative and give drivers another chance to fight for positions in a setting where overtaking is scarce.
Critics, on the other hand, fear that a Sprint could dilute the traditional allure of the Monaco Grand Prix, turning a once‑sacred Saturday into a filler event. As the sport heads into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, the debate will continue to unfold in the paddock and among fans worldwide.
Whether the Sprint format will become a permanent fixture in Monte Carlo, or whether the organizers will seek an alternative solution that preserves the race’s distinctive charm, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the conversation has already sparked a deeper examination of how Formula One balances innovation with heritage, and how drivers, teams, and fans alike will shape the future of one of motorsport’s most iconic venues.