F1 2027: FIA shortens Grands Prix from 305 to 290 km

Formula 1 will race shorter in 2027. The FIA F1 Commission approved a cut in the total Grand Prix distance from 305 to 290 km, two or three laps fewer depending on the circuit, alongside next season's power unit rule changes.

Why Grands Prix are getting shorter

The reason is technical. In 2027 the permitted fuel flow rises, because the power unit formula is gradually moving away from its initial split between combustion and electrical energy. The Race puts the combustion share at around 53/47 today, then 58/42 in 2027 and 60/40 in 2028.

With a higher fuel flow, racing the same distance would need more fuel. Some teams would have had to enlarge their tanks, with consequences for the chassis and spending under the cost cap. Fewer kilometres avoid that work.

What changes in practice

• Standard distance: 290 km instead of 305 km, two or three laps fewer per race.
• Monaco: the race there already runs over 260 km, so it sits outside the common logic.
• Time limit: the three-hour cap between start and finish, interruptions included, goes away; the two-hour limit on actual racing stays. A strict end time replaces it for interrupted races.
• Gearboxes: mandatory homologation is dropped for 2027, giving manufacturers and teams more development freedom.

Where the decision stands

The plan came out of the F1 Commission meeting held in London, reported on 21 September 2026. At that point Formula1.com and The Race said the package still had to be ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

In an article dated 20 October 2026, GPFans says the WMSC has ratified the measure and that the cut would be a one-off: 290 km in 2027, back to 305 km in 2028. That detail is absent from the other two sources we consulted and we have not cross-checked it; we mention it for information only.

The editorial team