F1 Will Return to Portugal in 2027

The Portuguese Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027, with race organisers at the Portimão circuit signing a two-year contract.

Formula 1 is set to return to Portugal for the first time in six years. The Portuguese Grand Prix will return to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve – better known as Portimão – as part of a two-year deal following the signing of a contract with the Portuguese government, Turismo de Portugal and promoter Parkalgar, Parques Tecnológicos e Desportivos, S.A.

The Portuguese Grand Prix last appeared on the calendar in 2021. It returned to the schedule at Portimão amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and returned at short notice to fill a vacant slot in 2021. Lewis Hamilton, then driving for Mercedes, won both of the events held at the Algarve circuit. His victory in the 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix saw him take a 92nd Grand Prix win, taking the all-time record from Michael Schumacher.

There have been 18 F1 races held to date in Portugal, the majority of which took place at Estoril between 1984 and 1996. The track is famed for being the scene of Ayrton Senna’s first victory in 1985 and the venue at which Niki Lauda claimed his third and final title win by just half a point in 1984.

Talking about the new deal, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says that demand to host a Formula 1 race is higher than it has ever been:

“I’m delighted to see Portimão return to the Formula 1 calendar and for the sport to continue to ignite the passion of our incredible Portuguese fanbase. The circuit delivers on-track excitement from the first corner to the chequered flag, and its energy lifts fans out of their seats. The interest and demand to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix is the highest that it has ever been, so I would like to thank Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion of Portugal, Manuel Castro Almeida, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services, Pedro Machado, President of Turismo de Portugal, Carlos Abade, President of the Algarve Tourist Board, Andre Gomes and CEO and Chairman of the Algarve International Circuit, Jaime Costa for their support in bringing F1 back to Portugal. I look forward to working together again to ensure that Portimão returns to the calendar in emphatic style.”

2027 F1 Calendar Takes Shape

F1’s return to Portugal was rumoured earlier this year when, in August, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said that “everything is ready” for the sport to return to the country.

Following the latest announcement, there are now 23 circuits signed up to host Formula 1 races in 2027. Of circuits which will appear on the 2026 calendar, there are only two which are not yet confirmed for the following season. We already know that Zandvoort, host of the Dutch Grand Prix, will host its final race in 2026.

The other circuit without a deal in 2027 is Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The former Spanish Grand Prix host will host the Barcelona Grand Prix in 2026 but its future on the schedule beyond that is unclear. With Madrid hosting the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 onwards, the inclusion of an event in Portugal – Spain’s neighbouring country – perhaps suggests a 2027 Barcelona Grand Prix is unlikely to happen.

Formula 1 is understood to be keen to add a race in Thailand and a race on the African continent to the calendar before the end of the decade. While there is one slot free on the 2027 calendar, a 2028 debut for one of the two events seems more likely, especially given that there will be additional position available on the schedule in 2028, when Spa-Francorchamps enters into its rotational race deal.

F1’s First Full Capacity Race at Portimão

The 2027 Portuguese Grand Prix will mark Formula 1’s first race at the Portimão circuit to feature a full capacity crowd. Due to restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 race weekend was held in front of a crowd of only 30,000 fans, while the 2021 race took place behind closed doors. Jane, from London, was one of few fans who got to witness F1 racing at Portimão in 2020. Read more about her experience at the track here.