FIA Trims 15km Off Select 2027 Grands Prix Before Full 2028 Reset
Formula 1 will temporarily reduce its maximum grand prix distance by 15 kilometers for select high-fuel circuits during the 2027 season before restoring traditional race lengths in 2028, according to regulations released by the FIA. Motorsport teams and drivers face the interim 290-kilometer cap following engine regulation adjustments that increased fuel consumption while teams operate under fixed chassis fuel tank capacities.
Engine Rules Force Interim 290km Cap Across High-Consumption Tracks
The temporary reduction shortens the maximum race distance from 305 kilometers (189.5 miles) to 290 kilometers (180.2 miles) at tracks where fuel burn is highest, preventing teams that reuse existing chassis from running out of fuel due to unmodifiable integrated tanks. Revised hybrid power units, moving toward a 60-40 combustion-to-electrical split by 2028, require higher fuel consumption during maximum output phases. Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton criticized the shortened distance format, arguing that grands prix should remain physically and mentally demanding tests pushed to human limits.
The FIA outlined the dual-stage framework alongside its broader technical updates, establishing an automatic clause that reinstates the full 305-kilometer race length once engine delivery balances stabilize in 2028.
