Lewis Hamilton insists Formula 1 must think outside the box to save Monaco from its reputation as a boring race. Reacting to plans for a sprint weekend in Monte Carlo in 2027, the seven-time world champion said the idea doesn't fully address the core issue. "It makes no sense to me, but I'm not making decisions," he said flatly.
Monaco holds a special place in fans' hearts. The narrow street circuit, surrounded by yachts and grand buildings, remains a magnet. However, on-track overtaking is virtually non-existent. That's why its place on the F1 calendar has been a hot topic of debate in recent years.
From 2027, F1 will increase the number of sprint weekends to 10, with Monaco on the list. The announcement sparked immediate reaction on social media. After all, there will now be two races with likely minimal overtaking. But surprisingly, several drivers have welcomed the move.
"Well, I think Monaco just needs to be made a bit more variable," said Sergio Perez in Baku. "For the last few years, everything was decided on Saturday. So now it can mix things up a bit. I'm looking forward to an interesting weekend." Perez, now at Red Bull, sees the sprint as a way to inject unpredictability into a usually monotonous race.
Echoing Perez, George Russell believes sprints are an integral part of modern F1. "Normal race weekends feel long-winded now. We all want to fight. The main enjoyment comes from competition and the adrenaline of qualifying," said the Mercedes driver. "The race won't be the most exciting, but that's compensated by a more exciting Friday. Sprint qualifying is way more exciting than FP2."
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri admitted he was initially skeptical. "I was surprised at first, but I get the understanding behind it, mainly having two qualifying sessions," said the McLaren driver. "Normally in Monaco, we build up through the weekend, and Saturday afternoon is when everyone gets that last percent out. We won't have that luxury next year. So it maybe didn't make complete sense at first, but two qualis make it interesting."
Perez added that the sprint also gives teams a chance to alter their strategic approach. "In Monaco, track position is everything. With a sprint, there's more opportunity to recover if main qualifying doesn't go well," he explained. However, he acknowledged that crash risk increases as drivers will be more aggressive on the narrow track.
Hamilton, though skeptical, hasn't closed the door entirely. "On the positive, maybe we get another qualifying session, which is quite cool," he admitted. "But I've always said Monaco needs something different. I don't think it should be the same race." This suggests he wants a more radical format change, not just adding a sprint.
With this dynamic, the 2027 Monaco sprint is predicted to be a big experiment. Will it save Monaco from criticism, or just add to the list of complaints? One thing is clear: the drivers are ready to give their best, and fans can look forward to a more packed and tense weekend on the streets of Monte Carlo.
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