An important change is underway in Formula 1: the eleven teams would have approved a reduction of about 5% in the distance of Grands Prix starting from the 2027 season, to accompany the changes made to the power units.
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The measure must still go through the regulatory approval process before being definitively integrated into the regulations.
Currently, a Grand Prix must cover a minimum distance of about 305 kilometers. From 2027, this reference would change to about 290 kilometers, a reduction of about fifteen kilometers.
Depending on the length of the circuits, this should generally represent three to four fewer laps.
A consequence of engine changes
This decision is directly linked to the evolution of the engine regulations planned for the next season.
Since 2026, Formula 1 has relied much more heavily on the electric part of its power units. But faced with difficulties encountered with the management and deployment of this energy, the FIA, F1, the teams, and the engine manufacturers have already decided to gradually rebalance the power distribution.
In 2027, the internal combustion engine will move to 420 kW while the MGU-K will be limited to 300 kW in normal use. The distribution should thus reach about 58% thermal power versus 42% electric, before moving to 60/40 in 2028. The fuel flow will increase by 5% in 2027.
This increase logically leads to higher consumption. The teams then had two main options: increase the amount of fuel carried and thus potentially modify the tanks, or slightly reduce the race distance. It is this second solution that seems to have been favored.
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About 15 kilometers less
The first discussions considered only shortening the Grands Prix that are most demanding in fuel. But applying a different distance depending on the circuits would have complicated the regulations and made the problem much more visible.
A uniform reduction to about 290 kilometers finally gained the support of the teams.
The change will remain relatively limited for spectators. On most circuits, the races would lose only a few laps and would therefore keep a format very close to the one currently used.
The Monaco exception
One point still needs to be clarified: the case of Monaco. Some information indicates that the Grand Prix, already limited to about 260 kilometers due to its particular layout, could keep its current format. Other sources report on the contrary that it could also be slightly shortened. The final wording of the regulations will decide.
The reduction to 290 kilometers is therefore not yet definitively written into the regulations, but the support of the teams is an important step.
From 2027, Grands Prix should thus become slightly shorter to allow the new F1 cars to exploit their internal combustion engine more without significantly increasing the amount of fuel carried.
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