F1 drivers split over 2027 Monaco Grand Prix Sprint race
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Formula 1 drivers have offered mixed reactions to the planned Sprint race at the 2027 Monaco Grand Prix, questioning whether the format suits the circuit's narrow streets.
Formula 1's move to add a Sprint race to the 2027 Monaco Grand Prix has split opinion in the paddock, with several drivers doubting whether the shorter format can work on a track long defined by its difficulty for overtaking. The Principality's streets, barely wide enough for two cars in places, have made passing rare even in full-length races, and some drivers fear a compressed Sprint weekend could produce processional laps rather than genuine racing.
Sergio Perez said he first learned Monaco had been chosen for the Sprint format through the drivers' own group chat rather than official channels, a detail that has fuelled debate over how the decision was communicated within the sport. For residents used to the road closures and grandstands that transform the harbour and Casino Square each May, the change would mean an extra day of track action and a revised schedule around the usual practice and qualifying sessions.
Monaco's race organisers have not yet detailed how logistics around the harbour, the Fairmont hairpin or the tunnel exit would adapt to accommodate a Sprint session, though any changes are likely to affect ticketing, viewing areas and the timing of road reopenings for local traffic. With the 2027 calendar still some way off, the debate among drivers suggests Formula 1 may face further scrutiny over the format before it reaches Monaco's streets.