F1 Announces Major Race Calendar Change With European Nation Set To Return
Formula 1 have announced a significant change to the future calendar, with a major European country set to finally host another race.
Despite criticism from F1 drivers about the number of races, with 24 held in 2025, there are no signs of the calendar being reduced.
The Miami Grand Prix made its debut in 2022 before the United States was handed another race, with Las Vegas making its bow in 2023.
Next year, the Spanish Grand Prix, which is one of the oldest races on the calendar, will move to a Madrid street circuit.
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Now, it has been confirmed that the Portuguese Grand Prix will make a return to the Formula 1 calendar for both the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Portugal has hosted its own Grand Prix on 26 occasions in the past, with Boavista and Monsanto staging races during the 1950s before Estoril became the venue between 1984 and 1997.
After more than 20 years away, a Portuguese Grand Prix returned during the pandemic-impacted 2020 season.
It proved to be a landmark race, with Lewis Hamilton claiming his 92nd Grand Prix victory, surpassing the legendary Michael Schumacher to become the most successful race winner in Formula 1 history.
The race returned the following season, with the Briton once again taking victory for Mercedes at Portimao.
No Grand Prix has been held in Portugal since then, but Formula 1 has now confirmed a return to Portimao in 2027 and 2028.
The 4.6km Autodrome Internacional do Algarve circuit is regarded as a technically challenging track for drivers.
There are significant elevation changes throughout the lap, with the circuit ending in a dramatic drop into the final right-hander.
The Portuguese Grand Prix will effectively replace the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, which is set to drop off the F1 calendar at the end of next season.
Although that means the calendar will not become any busier, four-time world champion Verstappen has previously spoken about the demanding race schedule.
While it remains difficult to decide which circuits should be removed, F1 pundit Karun Chandhok has suggested the Chinese Grand Prix should be cut.
Speaking on the Fast and the Curious podcast, he said: He replied: “Oh China! Yeah, 100%.
“Only because the paddock is completely soulless. It’s built on swamp land, there are bugs everywhere, you can’t find anyone, and everyone just disappears into these little buildings.
“They say the Grand Prix’s in Shanghai, it’s like saying we had a London Grand Prix and it being up in Corby or something.
“It’s nothing to do with Shanghai, it’s miles away. So, I would immediately [remove it], that would be the one."
Topics: Formula 1, Portugal, Lewis Hamilton
James Taylor