Lewis Hamilton and his teammate George Russell have taken opposite stances on the proposal to turn the 2027 Monaco Grand Prix into a Sprint‑format weekend. The announcement came as part of Formula 1's 2027 calendar reveal, which confirmed an expansion of Sprint events from six to ten. Under the new plan, Monaco would host an additional qualifying session on Friday followed by a 100‑kilometre Sprint race on Saturday, before the traditional Grand Prix on Sunday. Monaco has long been recognised as one of the sport's most demanding circuits when it comes to overtaking.
Its narrow, winding streets leave little room for drivers to pass one another, making qualifying performance especially crucial. F1 officials argued that the extra qualifying session would give drivers another opportunity to demonstrate "world‑class skill and precision on the tight streets of Monte Carlo". Hamilton was quick to voice his skepticism.
"It makes no sense to me, but I'm not the one making the decisions," the seven‑time champion said ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he is hoping to fight for victory. He acknowledged the appeal of an extra qualifying session, calling it "quite cool", but insisted that Monaco deserves a format that is distinct from the rest of the calendar. "We've already added Sprints, which have brought something fresh to the sport, but Monaco needs something different.
It's a beautiful location, an incredible circuit, yet the race itself can feel rather dull. A Sprint race isn't the answer," he added. Russell, on the other hand, defended the Sprint concept when speaking at the FIA press conference in Baku.
"I think it's good because we've had Sprints for a while now, and normal race weekends can feel a bit long‑winded. Everyone wants to fight," he said.
He highlighted the excitement generated by qualifying, noting that the adrenaline rush of a Sprint‑qualifying session is far more engaging than a routine free‑practice run. "The race may not be the most thrilling, but a more exciting Friday compensates for that. Sprint Qualifying is way more exciting than FP2, so overall it makes sense," Russell argued. Max Verstappen, who has been a vocal critic of Sprint weekends in the past, has softened his tone in recent years.
In 2023 he warned that adding too many Sprints could shorten his career, but he now says his feelings are clear to F1 chief Stefano Domenicali. "Maybe Monaco wanted it, I don't know. For me I honestly don't care where the Sprints are. I participate and I try to do my best.
I have no emotion attached to winning a Sprint or not. My focus has always been on the Grand Prix," Verstappen explained, emphasizing that his primary goal remains the main race. Sergio Perez, the Mexican driver for Red Bull, admitted he first learned about the Monaco Sprint plan through the drivers' WhatsApp group and described the news as "a bit busy".
He suggested that adding a Sprint could make the weekend more varied. "Monaco has basically been a Saturday event for the last few years.
Whatever happened on Saturday was basically done. Mixing things up could make it more interesting, and I'm looking forward to it," he said. McLaren's Lando Norris took a fan‑centric view, saying that the audience should have a say in where Sprints are held.
"If the fans have a better time then I'm happy," he remarked. Norris also hinted that other venues might be better suited for Sprint races, but acknowledged that the decision lies with the sport's governing bodies. The broader context of the debate includes a packed schedule for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
The timetable lists F2 practice and qualifying sessions, the F1 Show, and multiple F1 sessions, including practice, qualifying, and the Grand Prix itself, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. The inclusion of a Sprint weekend in Monaco would add another layer of complexity to an already busy calendar, prompting drivers to weigh the benefits of additional track time against the risk of diluting the prestige of the traditional Grand Prix format. In summary, the Monaco Sprint proposal has split the paddock. Hamilton argues that the historic street circuit deserves a unique format that goes beyond simply adding a Sprint, while Russell believes the extra qualifying action enhances the weekend's excitement.
Verstappen remains indifferent, focusing on the Grand Prix, and Norris suggests fans should influence the decision. As Formula 1 moves toward ten Sprint events in 2027, Monaco will serve as a litmus test for whether the sport can successfully blend tradition with innovation without compromising the allure of its most iconic race.