Lewis Hamilton has labelled the proposed sprint race at the Monaco Grand Prix as ‘senseless’, stating it is not a viable solution for the circuit. The seven-time world champion voiced his concerns during the press day ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Formula 1 announced an expansion of its sprint race calendar to ten events for the 2027 season, with Monaco included as a new venue for the format. This decision has drawn varied reactions from the paddock.
Hamilton emphasised that a sprint race would not address the inherent challenges of racing in Monaco. He stated, ‘It makes no sense to me.’
The Mercedes driver acknowledged a potential positive, noting, ‘On the positive, maybe we get another qualifying session, which is quite cool.’ However, he maintained that Monaco requires a fundamentally different approach to enhance the spectacle.
Hamilton described the traditional Monaco Grand Prix race as ‘as dull as it gets,’ despite calling the location ‘a beautiful place’ and the circuit ‘an incredible circuit to drive.’
The Circuit de Monaco is widely recognised for its narrow layout and limited overtaking opportunities. The track width varies between 8 and 12 metres, making side-by-side racing difficult for modern Formula 1 cars.
Qualifying holds significant importance at Monaco due to the scarcity of passing zones, with the Nouvelle Chicane and Fairmont Hairpin offering the most realistic, albeit challenging, chances for overtakes.
Other drivers have also commented on the Monaco sprint proposal. Max Verstappen adopted a pragmatic stance, stating he has ‘no emotion attached to winning a sprint race or not winning it’ and that his focus remains on the Grand Prix.
Sergio Pérez indicated that the announcement generated considerable discussion within the F1 drivers’ WhatsApp group. He suggested the sprint format could ‘mix things around a little bit more’ and introduce more variability to the weekend.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri expressed initial surprise but understood the rationale behind the move, particularly the prospect of two qualifying sessions. He conceded it would ‘probably not be the best Sprint race.’
Lando Norris also offered a concise reaction, describing the prospect of a Monaco sprint as ‘interesting,’ implying a lack of significant on-track action.
The expansion of the sprint calendar is part of Formula 1’s strategy to provide competitive action across all three days of a race weekend, aiming to boost attendance and viewership figures.
For the current 2026 season, the six sprint race venues are Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, and Singapore. Monaco is not included in the 2026 sprint schedule.
