F1 reduces maximum distance of races by 15km — SkimNews
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- F1 announced the maximum grand prix distance will drop from 305km (189.5 miles) to 290km (180.2 miles) for the 2027 season.
- The FIA introduced a variable "hard stop time" to replace the current three-hour race duration limit, giving officials flexibility to complete events disrupted by rain or accidents — with night races granted more leeway to run later than daytime races with earlier sunsets.
- The distance reduction stems from the power unit ratio shifting from 53-47 (internal combustion-electric) this year to 58-42 in 2027 and 60-40 in 2028, meaning cars will burn more fuel per race.
- Some teams had pushed to carry over existing chassis into 2027 to save money, but because the fuel tank sits inside the chassis and can't be resized, those teams risked being unable to finish grands prix — prompting the shorter distance compromise.
- The F1 Commission — comprising teams, the FIA, and the commercial rights holder — also approved greater flexibility to extend free practice sessions disrupted by red flags, since the clock currently keeps running during practice interruptions unlike in qualifying and races.
- The FIA framed the changes as ensuring spectators "the best possible chance to enjoy a full race if disruptions occur."
Why it matters: Teams eyeing chassis carryovers just lost a key cost-saving lever — shortening the race is the cheapest way to make their fixed fuel tanks viable under the more fuel-thirsty 2027 power unit rules. The variable hard stop time also gives race directors a new tool to finish weather- or crash-disrupted grands prix without resorting to the blunt three-hour cutoff.
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