Formula 1 to restore 305km race distance in 2028 after temporary cut

Formula 1 is set to restore its standard 305km grand prix distance in 2028, reversing a reduction planned for the 2027 season. BBC Sport reported that the FIA's newly published regulations include a provision reinstating the longer distance after a temporary cut linked to changes in engine power and fuel requirements.

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The 2027 limit is 290km, a reduction of 15km from the existing figure. According to the BBC, the shorter distance is intended to address a potential problem for teams that want to retain their current chassis next season. The change affects only a small number of races where fuel consumption is highest, rather than having the same practical effect throughout the calendar.

At the centre of the issue is the balance between the two sources of power in F1's hybrid engines. The engines introduced this year divide their output almost equally between internal combustion and electrical power. That arrangement has faced criticism for diminishing the influence of driver skill, with the availability of maximum power a focus of the planned changes.

The power balance will move towards a 60-40 split in favour of internal combustion through two stages by 2028. The BBC reported that this will allow drivers to use maximum power for longer, but will also increase fuel consumption. That additional demand created a difficulty when some teams expressed an interest in carrying their chassis into 2027 to reduce costs.

Because the fuel tank sits inside the chassis, keeping the same chassis also means being unable to change the tank's size. The concern was that those teams might not have enough fuel capacity to complete certain grands prix. The 2027 rules published by the FIA this week contain a separate provision for 2028 that removes the distance reduction.

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton had already opposed the shorter races. As reported by the BBC, he argued that grands prix had become physically easier and should be longer, not shorter. He highlighted Singapore's heat as an example of the demands he believes drivers should face, saying the sport ought to test athletes near their physical and mental limits.