Formula 1’s shorter grand prix distance will not be permanent. According to Keith Collantine of RaceFans, the FIA has confirmed that the traditional 305km race length will return in 2028 after a one-year reduction in 2027.
Last month, Formula 1 announced that it would cut 15 kilometres from the standard grand prix distance next year, reducing most races to 290 kilometres. That change is tied to new fuel flow limits coming into force next year, and it will apply to all grands prix except Monaco.
Monaco is already an exception to the standard rule. The Monaco Grand Prix uses a shorter 260-kilometre distance, so it will not follow the 290-kilometre format used by the rest of the calendar in 2027.
What changes in 2027 and 2028
The key point is that the shorter race distance is temporary. In 2027, most grands prix will run over 290 kilometres instead of 305km. Then in 2028, the previous 305-kilometre rule will apply again.
That means the adjustment is a one-season change rather than a long-term reset of Formula 1’s race-length format. For teams and fans, the practical takeaway is simple: 2027 will be the shortened year, but 2028 brings the full distance back.
Collantine summed up the news with a light aside: “I’ll probably need to order a new spine.”
