F1: Real Reason Why Monaco Grand Prix Will Have a Sprint Race Next Season

Nasir is a sports journalist and has previously worked for SPORTbible from 2016 to 2026.

He helped grow, develop and expand SPORTbible's coverage of combat sports and worked closely with the UFC, the PFL and Matchroom Boxing.

He has also contributed to AddictedMMA and CagePotato.

Nasir specialises in combat sports and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the fight game, including Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Tom Aspinall, while covering events in Las Vegas, New York, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, to name but a few.

He has also covered a wide range of other sports during his time as a journalist, including football and cricket.

Nasir graduated from Bath Spa University with a degree in Media Communications.

The Monaco Grand Prix will have a Sprint Race next season as Formula 1 has increased the number of Sprints from six to 10 for the 2027 season, and here's why.

F1 made a first-ever trip to the Spanish capital last weekend for the Madrid Grand Prix, having moved from its traditional circuit in Barcelona.

It's a high-speed street track and was described as the 'most risky circuit of the whole calendar' before the race, which was won by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.

Ahead of the 2026 season resuming in Azerbaijan, F1 has announced its 2027 calendar, which includes four new Sprint Races, headlined by the addition of Monaco.

Sprint events, which feature a shorter race on Saturday and an extra qualifying session on Friday, will be held for the first time in the aforementioned Monaco, as well as Bahrain, Australia, Japan, and Abu Dhabi.

The other Sprint Races will be in Britain, Italy, Brazil, Qatar, and Canada as the 2027 calendar was formally announced on Wednesday.

The maximum number of Sprints previously in a season has been six.

F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: "We are thrilled to welcome Portugal and Turkey to the championship and to expand sprint racing to 10 events, giving our fans even more intensity, drama, and the wheel-to-wheel action that make our sport so special."

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: "The 2027 FIA F1 World Championship calendar is a strong reflection of the global appeal and continued growth of our sport.

"With 24 Grands Prix across five continents, the return of Portugal and Turkey, and the opportunity for an expanded sprint programme, the calendar combines tradition, innovation and fan engagement while maintaining the highest sporting standards."

The fact that Monaco, which has never hosted a Sprint Race before, has surprisingly been added has raised eyebrows within the F1 community, given it is almost impossible to overtake around the iconic 78-lap street circuit.

F1, however, is selling it on the basis that it means there will be not one but two qualifying sessions in the Principality. Qualifying on the historic track is viewed by fans and critics alike as one of the highlights on the F1 calendar.

F1 has also pointed out that the inclusion of the Sprint Race means there will now be two such grid-setting sessions in 2027.

What's more, having only one practice session increases the variability, as drivers will only have one session to build rhythm and confidence.

In a video for Sky Sports, Craig Slater explained: "Traditionally, Sprints have been held at tracks where it is easy to overtake. Clearly, that's not the case at Monaco.

"But the big bonus here is we'll have two red-hot qualifying sessions. That's what that track is all about and the drivers will have the ultimate test on two occasions that weekend."