McLaren star Lando Norris backs radical change to F1 Grand Prix racing days after major FIA announcement

McLaren star Lando Norris has backed Formula 1 shortening its race distances, in an effort to prevent the sport from becoming focused with “who looks after a battery best.”

Formula 1 bosses have proposed shortening Grands Prix distances, amid concerns that racing could turn into an electrical conservation contest, as opposed to the pure driving Norris craves.

As things stand, current and future hybrid Formula 1 frameworks promote extensive system monitoring, which the McLaren star believes can be managed by shortening Grands Prix.

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Lando Norris calls for Formula 1 race distances to be trimmed - ‘Not what this sport is about’

As opposed to drivers pushing their vehicles fully in Grands Prix from start to conclusion, Norris and his peers are often forced to manage state-of-charge figures.

For the McLaren star, who believes this approach to driving is “not what this sport is about,” the trimming of Formula 1 races is a clear solution.

As relayed by GPblog, the 26-year-old explained why shortening Formula 1 race distances is necessary, to promote stronger driver-to-driver battles.

“It’s a good compromise,” said Norris, referring to shortened F1 Grands Prix lengths. “We need [that] to make our sport better, and rely more on driving than who can look after a battery best.”

"It's not that you push harder. I mean, you're just not having to think about the battery as often as you are this year, which is what we want as drivers,” continued the British-Belgian.

"It's a short-term compromise, I think," Norris claimed, regarding F1’s Grands Prix distance future. "Then we can go back to the longer races and the races that we've always had in Formula 1.

“In a few years time, [we’ll have] more fuel again, and bigger tanks, and all of that. But it's a compromise we have to make to suit all teams,” concluded the 26-year-old.

Norris, whose overarching message is that energy micromanagement steals the Formula 1 spotlight from high-octane wheel-to-wheel combat, stressed his point previously ahead of the Azerbaijani Grand Prix.

"This is not what this sport is about,” claimed the McLaren star. "It's about which drivers can extract the most from the car, and that's not what we're seeing this year. So, yeah, that's the compromise we have to make."

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Formula 1 announce shortened maximum race lengths for 2027

From 2027 onwards, Formula 1 races will be shorter, the FIA announced on Monday. The maximum length will be 290 kilometres going forward, as opposed to the current 305km limit.

"In line with the refinements to the Power Unit regulations to be introduced in 2027 on fuel flow, a reduction in the total race distance from 305km to 290km was approved,” wrote the FIA.

As a result, F1 Grands Prix will lose around two to three laps next season. The racing format will remain identical, but with 15 kilometres trimmed from Formula 1’s lengthiest races.

The proposed change isn’t yet set in stone, but hitches would be unexpected. The remaining roadblock is approval from the World Motor Sport Council, which is set to be attained virtually on October 15.

The decision was reached by the FIA and teams during 2026’s third Formula 1 commission meeting. Regulations were defined for 2027, which also included the maximum duration of Grands Prix.

As it stands, F1 races are to last a maximum of three hours; next season, that time limit will be voided. In its place is a fixed end time for race activities.

The maximum actual racing time will remain at two hours, but the FIA’s change is intended to allow greater flexibility should Formula 1 races be interrupted by external factors.

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