Formula 1 grands prix will revert to their standard maximum length in 2028, ending a temporary distance reduction scheduled for the 2027 season. Under the revised guidelines, the maximum race distance for 2027 was reduced by 15km, bringing the total length down from 305km (189.5 miles) to 290km (180.2 miles). The FIA, published the 2027 rules this week and these included a section on changes for 2028 in which there is a clause that removes the reduction and reinstates the 305km maximum distance, the sport’s governing body.
This temporary adjustment stemmed from engine regulations introduced this year. The current hybrid power units feature a near 50-50 division between internal combustion and electrical power, a setup that faced criticism for diminishing the role of driver skill. To address this, the power split will shift in two phases to a 60-40 balance by 2028, giving drivers maximum power for longer stretches.
The shift to a 60-40 split increases fuel consumption, creating complications for teams aiming to carry their existing chassis over into next season to save money. Because the fuel tank is embedded within the chassis structure and cannot be resized, those teams faced the risk of running out of fuel before completing certain grands prix, particularly at a few circuits where fuel consumption is heaviest.
The FIA published the
The temporary cut had drawn criticism from Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. The 41-year-old British driver argued that grand prix lengths should not be reduced, emphasizing that racing has become physically less demanding than in previous eras.
“The races should be longer because the races are physically easier than ever before. So shortening, I don’t think, makes much sense,” Hamilton remarked. “This is supposed to be the sport that’s the most physically demanding – mentally and physically. There are some that are just so hot and ultimately you are on the edge. Like Singapore is incredibly hot and demanding. But that’s where I think you want to see athletes – just right on the edge, right? Right at the edge of their performance, having to actually push their bodies further because that’s what this sport is about – pushing, pushing the levels and pushing the boundaries.”
