Lewis Hamilton: F1 2027 Race Shortening 'Makes Absolutely No Sense'

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at F1's decision to shorten race distances from 2027, saying the move "makes absolutely no sense" and insisting the sport should be extending its races. The FIA confirmed the change ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix: race distance drops from 305km to 290km, with Monaco retaining its 260km format.

Why it matters:

The change responds to increased fuel flow rates arriving in 2027, when the power split shifts to roughly 58-42 in favor of the internal combustion engine. Hamilton believes F1 is heading the wrong way, arguing the sport's identity as the ultimate physical and mental test is being diluted.

The Details:

• Hamilton says races are "physically easier than ever before," citing tire durability — with the C3, C4 and C5 compounds covering full race distances, one-stop strategies have become routine.
• "There have been many races where I wish we had more laps," said the Ferrari driver, who wants athletes pushed to the edge.
• He cited Singapore's brutal heat and Malaysia's return as events where drivers should be tested to their maximum, while naming 2007 and 2020 — when cars boasted peak downforce — as his most demanding seasons.
• He also lamented modern asphalt run-offs, missing the grass and gravel of older circuits.

What's next:

With the 2027 calendar already released, the shortened race distance is set to be a defining debate topic as F1 enters its next-generation rules era. Hamilton's stance signals drivers will keep pushing back.