Lewis Hamilton has rejected any logic behind the decision to add a Sprint Race to the Monaco Grand Prix in the 2027 Formula 1 calendar. The Mercedes driver believes the short-form race is not the answer for the narrow street circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
The 2027 F1 season will again feature a 24-race calendar, with Istanbul and Portimao returning after last appearing in 2021. However, the number of Sprint events will rise to 10, one of which will take place in Monaco. The principality has been widely criticised for its lack of overtakes and even saw a mandatory two-stop rule introduced in 2025 to spice up the action.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris, though seemingly sceptical, offered some reasoning behind the decision. He theorised that having two fewer practice sessions could lead to on-track chaos as drivers have less time to find the sweet spot.
But speaking to the media ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton left little room for the devil’s advocate. "That makes no sense to me," he said. "I’m not making decisions obviously, on the positive maybe we get another qualifying session which is quite cool."
Hamilton stressed that Monaco needs something different, not the same race formula as everywhere else. "I’ve always said Monaco needs something different, I don’t think it should be the same race formula that it is everywhere else," he added. "We’ve already included Sprint races, 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."
He also praised Monaco’s beauty as a country and an incredible circuit to drive, but criticised the race as dull. "This is a beautiful place, such a beautiful country, an incredible circuit to drive, but the race is as dull as it gets, so I don’t know what that is, but a Sprint race is not the answer for it I would say," he stated.
Hamilton’s criticism highlights Monaco’s unique challenge in modern F1. The tight track and sharp corners make overtaking nearly impossible without risking a crash. Adding a Sprint race could increase the risk of incidents and reduce the quality of the main event. F1’s decision to include Monaco in the 2027 Sprint list has drawn mixed reactions, with Hamilton the most vocal opponent.
With this strong statement, Hamilton once again proves he is not afraid to speak his mind for the good of the sport, even if it means going against the powers that be. Whether F1 will reconsider remains to be seen, but Hamilton’s critique at least opens an important discussion about Monaco’s future in the Sprint calendar.
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