FIA plans 290km Formula 1 races in 2027 before 305km return
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 21, 2026
Formula 1 distance
The temporary change is tied to Formula 1’s new power-unit rules. The FIA’s 2027 Sporting Regulations include a clause restoring the standard 305km distance from 2028 onward.
The plan is narrow in scope. The reduced distance will apply only to a handful of fuel-heavy events.
FIA fuel concerns
The new engine rules will change the power split to 60-40 by 2028, and that shift is expected to increase fuel use for some cars. Teams that plan to run existing chassis in 2027 have raised concerns that they may not have enough fuel capacity to finish longer races under the new setup. The FIA intends to keep current fuel tank sizes for one more year.
The shorter race distance is intended to reduce how many components teams need to redesign. The FIA’s plan is not a blanket shortcut across Formula 1. It is a targeted response to a handful of fuel-heavy events, while the standard 305km distance is set to return in 2028.
Monaco driver reaction
Monaco will remain an exception. The race will continue to run at its shorter 260km distance, separate from the rest of the Formula 1 schedule. That keeps the principality’s grand prix on its own format even as the FIA adjusts the broader distance rule for 2027. The 260km setup has long stood apart from the standard race length, and the new plan does nothing to change that.
The proposal has drawn mixed reaction from drivers. Lewis Hamilton criticized the idea of shortening races, arguing that they should stay longer and that the change makes no sense. Lando Norris took a more measured view. He described shorter races as a possible short-term compromise and said they could shift the emphasis back toward driving and away from battery management. That split captures the tension inside the sport. One side sees a practical adjustment to a new technical era. The other sees a race format that risks losing something if distance becomes a moving target. The FIA, for now, is choosing a temporary fix in 2027 and a full return to 305km in 2028.
