Grands Prix will be 15 kilometres shorter from next season. The F1 Commission agreed on Monday to cut the standard race distance from 305km to 290km for 2027, which works out at two or three fewer laps at almost every circuit. It is the first change to the length of a Grand Prix in decades, and the reason has nothing to do with television slots or attention spans. It is about fuel.
Why races are getting shorter
The 2026 power units were designed around a split of roughly half combustion engine and half electrical power. In practice it has run at about 53-47 in favour of the engine, and the sport has decided to move further in that direction. For 2027 the fuel flow limit is being raised, shifting the balance to around 58-42, with another step to 60-40 planned for 2028. Drivers have spent the season complaining that energy management dominates their racing, from Verstappen’s “turtle” comparison at Monza to broader grumbles that the cars feel unnatural, and a stronger combustion engine is the fix.
More fuel flow means more fuel burned per lap. Without a change, cars would need more fuel to cover 305km, and several teams would have had to build bigger fuel tanks. That is a chassis redesign, and it would come out of the cost cap at the expense of performance work. Shortening the race lets teams keep their current tank sizes. Everyone agreed it was the cheapest answer.
What changes, and what doesn’t
The 290km target applies everywhere except Monaco, which already runs to about 260km because of its slow lap. Most races lose two or three laps. The two-hour race time limit and the three-hour cap including stoppages stay as they are. Points scales do not change either, although our points system guide explains the rules for races cut short by red flags, which remain separate.
The change still needs formal sign-off from the FIA World Motor Sport Council, which meets virtually on 15 October. That is expected to be a formality. The Commission also approved minor changes to the 2026 sporting regulations at the same meeting.
Why 305km in the first place?
The number is older than most of the grid. Race distances have been cut repeatedly since the 1950s, when some Grands Prix ran past 500km and three hours, and settled at around 305km in the late 1980s. It has survived three decades of engine formulas since. Motorsport.com has a good history of how the figure evolved. Its replacement in 2027 is a clean example of how F1 regulations tend to change: a technical problem arrives first, and the sporting rule bends to fit it.
Will anyone notice?
On television, a race will run a few minutes shorter. Strategy will feel it more. Fewer laps shrinks the window for tyre offsets and makes one-stop races more likely at circuits where they were already borderline, which in turn puts more weight on qualifying and track position. The 2027 season is also getting more sprint weekends, ten in total, as set out in the 2027 calendar. Put together, the sport’s direction is clear: shorter races, more of them, and more weekends where Saturday matters as much as Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
How long will F1 races be in 2027?
290km, down from 305km, which means two or three fewer laps at most circuits. Monaco stays at about 260km.
Why are F1 races being shortened?
Fuel flow limits are rising in 2027 to give the combustion engine a larger share of power. Without shorter races, teams would need bigger fuel tanks.
Is the change confirmed?
The F1 Commission has approved it. The FIA World Motor Sport Council is expected to rubber-stamp it on 15 October.
Will the power split change in 2027?
Yes, from around 53-47 to about 58-42 in favour of the combustion engine, with a further step to 60-40 planned for 2028.
