In Formula 1, the race distance will be reduced to 290 kilometers.

      Formula 1 teams unanimously voted to reduce race distances by 5%, starting from the 2027 season. According to the Italian publication Auto Racer, this decision is related to upcoming changes in power units and the increasing role of the internal combustion engine.

      In Sunday races, the distance will be reduced from the current average of 305 kilometers to 290 kilometers. The exception will be the stage in Monaco – the race distance on the streets of the principality will remain unchanged, as the characteristics of the track imply significantly lower fuel consumption.

      The reason for the change is quite simple – in 2027, an increase in the power of the internal combustion engine is planned, along with an increase in fuel consumption. At the same time, teams did not plan to redesign cars developed under the 2026 regulations.

      Increasing the size of fuel tanks would require changes to the chassis and layout of the cars, which would lead to significant additional costs. Reducing the race distance by 5% allows for a much simpler solution to the problem. Teams will be able to keep the design of the cars virtually unchanged and adapt the power units without redesigning the fuel tanks and chassis.

      Moreover, a shorter distance will allow drivers to save less fuel and use available power for a longer time. As a result, the 2027 cars should be faster than the current ones, as the contribution of the internal combustion engine will increase, and the need to conserve fuel during the race will become less pressing.

      Thus, the teams decided to adapt the race distances to the new power units instead of making costly changes to the design of the cars.