Isack Hadjar Hits Out at Formula 1 Sprint Format on Street Circuits

Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar has voiced sharp criticism of Formula 1's sprint weekend format, arguing that it leaves teams with far too little time to repair damaged cars and makes no sense on circuits where overtaking is virtually impossible.

The French driver questioned the viability of sprint weekends on street tracks following a nightmare outing in Singapore, where a cascade of technical issues derailed his entire event. Hadjar suffered an engine failure in Sprint Qualifying, retired from the Sprint with a power unit glitch, and was hampered by gearbox trouble during Grand Prix Qualifying. With just a single free practice session before competitive running began, opportunities to troubleshoot and dial in car setups were practically non-existent.

The Frenchman was even more skeptical regarding prospective plans to introduce a sprint race in Monaco by 2027:

Hadjar's frustrations are widely shared across the Formula 1 grid. Lewis Hamilton pointed out that the Singapore Sprint was only captivating because of the rain, adding that in dry conditions it would likely have been one of the dullest races to watch. Max Verstappen stressed that the sport should avoid holding sprints at venues where overtaking is virtually impossible, while Charles Leclerc argued that sprint races on street circuits fundamentally make no sense.

Fernando Alonso agreed that the format requires adjustment, though he quipped that he would keep his suggestions to himself until after he retires to prevent them from being voted down by rival teams.

The core philosophy behind sprint weekends is to ensure every day delivers meaningful action for the championship. However, Hadjar argues that when an early session is derailed by mechanical woes, the entire weekend becomes a foregone failure with no chance of recovery.