Lewis Hamilton admits that the sprint race at Monaco in 2027 'makes no sense'

[p]Formula 1 announced Monaco as one of a record 10 sprint ‌venues when it published its 2027 calendar last week.[/p][p]The move ‌caused some surprise, with the harbourside layout, where overtaking is almost ‌impossible, serving up exciting qualifying action but processional races won ‌from pole.[/p][p]While a sprint weekend would give fans two qualifying sessions, it would also mean another race in addition to Sunday's showcase Grand Prix that, while shorter, is expected to be ⁠just as devoid of overtaking.[/p][p][b]"It ‌makes no sense to me," [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Hamilton[/a] told reporters at the Baku street ​circuit on Wednesday ahead of Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.[/p][p][b]"I have always said Monaco needs to be different.[/b][/p][p]"We have ​included sprint races, and I think that has brought something new to the sport but we need to come up with ⁠something new for somewhere ​like that."[/p][p][b]"I don't know what that is, but sprint races are not the answer,"[/b] added the Ferrari driver and three-time Monaco winner.[/p][embed guid="e1f96f81-ef66-4ef3-b319-aae882e8d0cb" url="https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/2102718628063789340" social-type="twitter" /][p]Formula 1 introduced the sprint format in 2021, trialling it at ‌three races that year.[/p][p]The 2026 season features six sprint events, with Singapore, another street venue, set to host the year's final sprint next month.[/p][p]A Saturday sprint victory is worth eight points to the winner, meaning a driver can come away from the weekend with a maximum of 33 rather than the usual 25 if he wins both.[/p][p]Formula One said that its data showed total viewership of sprint weekends was 12% higher than non-sprint weekends.[/p][p]But ‌McLaren's reigning world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] said there were better venues ​at which to host a sprint.[/p][p][b]"Honestly, it's not our ‌decision to choose where we race, so again, no point wasting my time thinking about it," [/b]said the Briton.[/p][p]Red Bull's four-times world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a], never a fan of the sprint format, added, "It's the same scenario as what happens ⁠in the main race right?[/p][p][b]"You ⁠are excited for the ‌start and then you can't pass."[/b][/p]