Hadjar criticizes Formula 1 Sprint weekends after Singapore
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 21, 2026
Why the Sprint format drew criticism
Isack Hadjar said Formula 1 Sprint weekends leave drivers with too little practice and too little time to sort out their cars. The criticism came after the Singapore Grand Prix, where he said the format can leave drivers needing to “get lucky” because they do not get enough laps to work properly on the car. Hadjar said the reduced track time makes it hard to learn anything from the weekend and difficult to properly evaluate setup changes. He also said drivers must switch quickly from the Sprint to Grand Prix qualifying. Hadjar questioned why Formula 1 keeps adding Sprint weekends and said the format favors teams whose cars are already working well. He made his view clear by saying he no longer likes Sprint weekends.
Singapore exposed limits
Singapore gave Hadjar a clear example of the issues he sees in the Sprint format. He dealt with bottoming and power unit issues during the weekend, problems that made it harder to get a clean read on the car. He retired from the Sprint. He recovered to finish 10th in the Singapore Grand Prix, but the weekend still reinforced his view that the Sprint leaves too little room to make meaningful changes. With limited practice time and a compressed schedule after that, Hadjar said drivers do not get the time they need to understand what the car is doing or to judge whether setup changes are working. That is why he sees the format as one that can reward teams that already arrive with a strong package and leave others chasing answers with little time to find them.
Monaco Sprint
Hadjar also turned his attention to the planned Monaco Sprint in 2027 and did not hold back. He called it pointless and said overtaking would be extremely difficult at Monaco. He said the idea of adding Monaco to a 10-race Sprint slate in 2027 was “very disappointing.” His comments fit the broader complaint he has made about the format, that it shortens practice time, limits the chance to test setup changes and puts more weight on a car that is already close to right from the start. Hadjar’s view is straightforward. He believes Sprint weekends reduce the ability to work through problems during the event and leave drivers with less time to learn. He also believes the format can tilt the balance toward teams that have already found pace, while offering little help to those still trying to fix issues. Monaco, in his view, magnifies those concerns. With overtaking so hard, he sees little reason to add another Sprint to a schedule that already demands fast answers from the first laps of the weekend.
