Lewis Hamilton/Ferrari on the 2027 regulation detail: “That’s completely pointless”

That’s a Formula 1 record: in his magnificent career, Lewis Hamilton has won Grands Prix at 31 different circuits – nine times at his beloved Silverstone, eight times at the Hungaroring, and seven times in Montreal and Barcelona.

By contrast, his record at the Baku City Circuit is modest: the 41-year-old Englishman has won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix just once, in 2018 in a Mercedes. A year ago, during his first season as a Ferrari driver, he finished eighth in Baku.

When Lewis Hamilton returns to Baku in a year’s time, the Grand Prix will be shorter – the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has decided to reduce the maximum race distance.

Since 2012, the rule has been that a Grand Prix may cover a maximum of 305 kilometres or last for two hours. This will no longer be possible from 2027 onwards, as a revised balance between electric power and internal combustion engine output 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 basic principle of the regulations, as the cost cap regulations also stipulate that, for cost reasons, teams can continue to use identical chassis designs.

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When the 2026 cars were designed, it was not yet anticipated that more fuel would be consumed 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 between 3 and 5 laps.

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

The aim is to prevent Grand Prix races from a) degenerating into fuel-saving events in which drivers desperately try to make it through the race on a limited supply of fuel and/or b) cars running out of fuel at the end of World Championship races.

Ferrari superstar Lewis Hamilton has no sympathy for this. Speaking in the paddock at the Baku City Circuit, the Briton said: “The Grands Prix are much less physically demanding than they used to be; if anything, we should have made the races longer. This is completely pointless.”

“I feel the same way from the perspective of the tyres we use. Here in Baku, we have the three softest compounds available, but they last for virtually the entire race distance. Because we have to use at least two different compounds in a Grand Prix, we often end up with one-stop races – that’s not particularly challenging.”

“There have been a few races this year where, as I approached the finish, I wished they’d last a little longer. So now they’re doing exactly the opposite of what I’d like to see.”