Overview
- The Formula 1 Commission agreed to cut the standard grand prix distance from 305km to 290km on Monday, September 21, 2026, with the package now awaiting routine ratification by the FIA World Motor Sport Council at its virtual meeting on October 15, 2026.
- The 15km reduction will trim most races by two or three laps while Monaco’s special 260km format remains unchanged.
- Technical changes driving the decision include an increase in internal‑combustion output to about 420kW, a lower MGU‑K cap around 300kW in normal running, and an approximate 5% rise in fuel flow that raises fuel consumption over race distance.
- Sporting rules were also revised to replace the current three‑hour total limit for stopped races with event‑specific hard‑stop times, to keep the existing two‑hour limit on actual racing, and to allow more flexibility to extend interrupted free practice sessions.
- The commission removed gearbox homologation for 2027 to preserve supplier development freedom and framed the shortened 2027 distance as a temporary, lower‑cost fix while further power‑unit changes are planned for 2028 that may require a fresh approach to fuel capacity.