Monaco Sprint weekend adds qualifying session and race in 2027
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 23, 2026
Monaco Sprint plan
Formula 1 will add Monaco to its Sprint weekends in 2027, giving the track an extra layer of pressure and adding another competitive element to the weekend. The weekend will feature an extra qualifying session on Friday and a 100-km Sprint race on Saturday. The idea behind the move is clear. Formula 1 wants more jeopardy in Monaco’s qualifying-heavy format, where limited passing has long been an issue. The new plan is aimed less at making the Sprint itself more thrilling than at making the weekend less predictable. That puts Monaco in a different role on the calendar, with another competitive session before the grand prix itself.
Driver reactions
Lewis Hamilton pushed back on the idea and said the Monaco Sprint change makes no sense for the circuit. He said Monaco needs something different because the race is already dull and called it “as dull as it gets.” Hamilton added that a Sprint race is not the answer. Others took a more positive view. George Russell said the shorter format makes the weekend more exciting and that the Monaco Sprint setup makes sense overall. Sergio Perez called the change “a bit busy but interesting.” Perez, Russell and Oscar Piastri all backed a Monaco Sprint weekend because the extra competitive session could help a track often criticized for limited passing. Even so, they also said the Sprint race itself could still be dull, even if the extra qualifying-style action gives Monaco more bite.
2027 calendar
The Monaco addition is part of a broader expansion that lifts the total number of Sprint weekends from six to 10 on the 2027 calendar. Max Verstappen took a different stance from several of his rivals and said he does not care where the Sprints are held. He said he focuses on the grand prix instead. Lando Norris also struck a different note, saying fans should have a say in the choice of Sprint venues and that other races might have been better options. Together, the reactions show a split in how drivers view the format. Some see extra Saturday action as a way to make the weekend less predictable. Others question whether Monaco is the right place for a Sprint weekend.
