The FIA will restore the usual race distance from the 2028 season onwards, ending a controversial rule change after just one season to accommodate a major shift in power unit regulations.
Next year, the race distance will be shortened from 305 kilometres to 290 kilometres. The shorter distance is being introduced as a temporary measure to help teams deal with an increase in power output from internal combustion engines.
Temporary measure for power unit changes
Under the current rules, the combustion engine and the electrical system provide 53 per cent and 47 per cent of total power respectively. Next season, that split will shift to 58/42 before a 60/40 ratio is targeted for 2028.
The change to 290 kilometres for next year means that teams can keep their current fuel tank sizes for one more season. As such, they won't have to adjust the whole design to accommodate for the power unit changes until 2028, when the race distance will revert back to 305 kilometres.
Fuel tank changes delayed
The size of fuel tanks will need to be changed because the permitted fuel flow is also being increased to boost output from the internal combustion engine. However, the temporary reduction in race distance will allow teams an extra year to design a larger fuel tank ahead of the 2028 campaign.
The decision to shorten races initially proved controversial, with Lewis Hamilton among those to speak out in opposition.
Drivers react to the change
Ahead of last month's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton said: "The races should be longer because they are physically easier than ever before. This is supposed to be a sport which is the most physically and mentally demanding, and there are some where you are on the edge. But that is where you want to see athletes right on the edge of performance and pushing their bodies further, pushing the levels and pushing the boundaries. Shortening the races makes absolutely no sense to me."
Lando Norris, meanwhile, suggested that a reduced race distance would be a positive short-term compromise that would improve the racing action. "We need [that] to make our sport better, and rely more on driving than who can look after a battery best," said the reigning world champion. "It's not that you push harder. I mean, you're just not having to think about the battery as often as you are this year, which is what we want as drivers. It's a short-term compromise, I think. Then we can go back to the longer races and the races that we've always had in Formula One. In a few years time, [we'll have] more fuel again, and bigger tanks, and all of that, but it's a compromise we have to make to suit all teams."
