F1 Commission cuts 2027 race distances by 15km to manage new power unit fuel demands

The Formula 1 Commission has approved a reduction in standard grand prix distance from 305km to 290km for the 2027 season, cutting approximately three laps from most races to accommodate the fuel demands of a reworked power unit formula. The decision, reached at Monday’s Commission meeting in London, still requires ratification from the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.

The distance cut is a direct consequence of changes to the 2027 power unit regulations, which rebalance the split between combustion and electrical power delivery. The internal combustion engine will be upscaled to 420kW, while the maximum output from the MGU-K is reduced to 300kW — or 350kW in overtake mode. To achieve the higher ICE output, fuel flow has been increased by five percent.

Rather than enlarge fuel tanks to accommodate that increased flow rate, the FIA and Formula One Management chose to shorten races, reducing the risk of drivers exhausting their fuel supply in the closing laps. The arrangement may not be permanent: from 2028, the regulations are set to change again, with ICE power rising to 450kW and an overall 13 percent increase in fuel flow targeting a 60/40 combustion-to-electric power split — a configuration that will require a larger fuel tank and could see race distances revisited once more.

The Commission also proposed scrapping the existing three-hour maximum window for red-flag-interrupted races. The two-hour race timer itself would remain, but the outer three-hour boundary would be replaced by a hard stop time tied to available daylight, giving organisers and spectators greater certainty over whether a delayed or rain-affected event can be completed. The FIA stated the change was introduced “to ensure that the spectators have the best possible chance to enjoy a full race if disruptions occur.”

A further proposal would grant race directors the authority to extend free practice sessions when red flag stoppages eat significantly into running time. The measure follows incidents at the Spanish Grand Prix, where FP3 lost around 30 minutes after Lewis Hamilton struck the barrier at Turn 22 — requiring approximately 25 minutes of repairs — and a late-session crash involving Ollie Bearman further reduced track time.