F1 could shorten selected races in 2027 to help teams cope with engine rules change

Formula 1 could shorten the lengths of selected grands prix next year as a result of plans to change the engine regulations.

Grand prix distances have been unchanged for decades. Every round on the calendar is run to the same minimum distance of 305 kilometres, with the exception of Monaco, which has a shorter 260km distance due to its unusual configuration.

However that may change due to plans to abandon the ’50-50′ split between combustion and electric power in engines next year. F1 intends to rebalance the split at around 60-40, increasing the relative power of the combustion engine.

This change will increase fuel consumption and require larger tanks for races where fuel consumption is highest. This presents a problem for some teams who intended to continue using the same chassis next season.

To avoid this, a proposal is being considered to shorten the races at which cars use the most fuel.

“I think that’s a very straightforward one.” said Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane. “On the chassis side, we have already spoken and come to an agreement, certainly at team principal level, that if anyone wanted to carry their chassis over and that wasn’t quite big enough to do the 310K [sic] race, we would look at selective races and – of course only where absolutely necessary – shorten them by maybe one or two laps [and] limiting [pre-race] laps to grid to one.

“So of course maximising any potential race length, but that’s already in place and ready to go.”

McLaren team principal said rules changes such as cutting race distances “are enablers that are part of this proposal that make this proposal achievable.” He believes the move away from the ’50-50′ split, which F1 long promoted as a key feature of its 2026 rules, is necessary.

“It is a proposal, the 60-40, that is for the good of the sport. I think there’s a general interest that prevails over the particular interest, and this is an important opportunity for the F1 community to make sure that the sport is in a strong position. So we do hope that this process will be successful.”

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