Lewis Hamilton has rejected any logic behind the decision to add a Sprint Race to the Monaco Grand Prix in next year’s Formula 1 calendar.
The 2027 F1 season will once again be a scheduled 24-date calendar, with added excitement in the form of both Istanbul and Portimao making returns, both having last been run in 2021.
But there will some added hecticness with the number of Sprints rising to 10, one of which taking place around the famous but notoriously narrow Principality street circuit.
Monaco has been largely panned in recent years for a distinct lack of overtakes, and has also been subjected to attempted increase of entertainment, with the inclusion of a mandatory two-stop rule in 2025.
Reigning World Champion Lando Norris, though appearing to be sceptical, offered some reasoning behind the decision, theorising that two less practice sessions could lead to some on-track carnage, with drivers having less time to find the sweet spot.
But speaking to media ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton, when asked for his thoughts on the Monaco Sprint, 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.
“But I’ve always said Monaco needs something different, I don’t think it should be the same race formula that it is everywhere else, it needs to be something different.
“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.
“This [Monaco] 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.”
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