Grands Prix will be shorter from 2027: Formula 1 has no other choice

Formula 1 races from 2027 onwards will be shorter: the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the GP teams have agreed on this; it still needs to be approved by the FIA World Council, but that is merely a formality.

Since 2012, the rule has been that a Grand Prix may cover a maximum of 305 kilometres or last a maximum of two hours. This will no longer be possible from 2027 onwards, as a revised weighting between electric power and internal combustion engine power will come into force, and a higher fuel flow rate will be permitted.

This will lead to higher fuel consumption and would normally have required the teams to fit larger fuel tanks to their cars. However, this contradicts the fundamental principle of the regulations, as the cost cap regulations also stipulate that teams may continue to use identical chassis for cost reasons.

When the 2026 cars were designed, it was not yet anticipated that fuel consumption would increase from 2027 onwards.

Consequently, from 2027 onwards, the maximum distance will no longer be 305 kilometres, but 290 km. Depending on the length of the circuit, this would mean a reduction in the number of race laps by 3 to 5 laps.

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Possible exception: Monaco, where the race distance is only 260.286 km despite comprising 78 laps.

This is intended to prevent Grand Prix races from a) degenerating into fuel-saving events, in which drivers desperately try to make it through the laps with limited fuel, and/or b) cars running out of fuel and coming to a standstill at the end of World Championship races.