F1 drivers split over whether Monaco Sprint 'makes sense' — SkimNews
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- Formula 1 announced its 2027 calendar increasing Sprint events from six to 10, with Monaco hosting the format for the first time — a Friday qualifying session followed by a 100km Saturday Sprint.
- Lewis Hamilton rejected the move outright, saying "It makes no sense to me" and arguing Monaco "needs something different" because "the race is as dull as it gets," calling a Sprint "not the answer."
- George Russell countered that Sprint Qualifying is "way more exciting than FP2" and that the new format compensates for Monaco's overtaking limitations, saying "on the whole it makes sense."
- Max Verstappen, a past critic of Sprints, struck a neutral tone: "I honestly don't care where the Sprints are" and said he has "no emotion attached to winning a Sprint race."
- Sergio Perez said he learned of the Monaco Sprint news through the drivers' WhatsApp group, calling it "a bit busy," but welcomed the chance to "mix things around."
- Lando Norris said fans should have a say on Sprint venues and suggested F1 "could have picked better races" to host the format than Monaco.
- F1 framed the change as giving drivers "two qualifying sessions" to showcase "world-class skill and precision on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo," addressing the track's notorious overtaking difficulty.
Why it matters: F1 is expanding Sprint weekends by 67% (from 6 to 10) in 2027, with Monaco — historically its most processional race — among the additions. The split among marquee drivers signals the format debate is far from settled, and Norris's call for fan input suggests drivers themselves see the selection of venues as a legitimacy problem rather than a settled sporting decision.
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