Iconic circuit set for return to F1 calendar in 2027 as announcement made

F1 will head back to Portimao in 2027, six years after hosting the second win of Lewis Hamilton’s 2021 title challenge. An announcement was made on Tuesday morning after months of negotiations with Portugal’s prime minister, Luis Montenegro.

Montenegro announced his government’s plans to bring the Portuguese Grand Prix back to the schedule at the traditional PSD Festival in Pontal earlier this year, and after official confirmation from F1 on Tuesday, the groundwork has been laid for the sport's return to Portugal.

“I’m delighted to see Portimao return to the Formula One calendar and for the sport to continue to ignite the passion of our incredible Portuguese fanbase," F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said on Tuesday. "The circuit delivers on-track excitement from the first corner to the chequered flag, and its energy lifts fans out of their seats."

Jaime Costa, CEO of the Portimao circuit, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Formula One back to Portugal and to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. The Portuguese Grand Prix will showcase the excellence of our circuit and the passion of our fans, delivering a powerful boost for our tourism, region, and community."

News of Portimao’s return will no doubt be popular among drivers, who praised the Algarve International Circuit’s unique characteristics. The track has extreme undulations, drawing obvious comparisons to a rollercoaster as the cars dip and peak over the blind hills.

“The undulations are incredible,” Hamilton said after experiencing the track for the first time in 2020. “There’s a lot of places where you can’t see where you’re going. The exit of Turn Eight, you’re looking at the sky for a period of time, and you have no idea what’s beyond the hill.

“Also, into [Turn] 11, you don’t know where you are and all of a sudden it arrives at you out of nowhere. Very challenging, and the surface is very smooth, you see a lot of people making mistakes, sliding and spinning. It’s not been an easy day.”

However, others were less complimentary. Throughout the two race weekends in Portimao, grip was a constant issue as drivers battled to stay within the confines of the track. Max Verstappen was one of the most vocal in criticising the lack of grip.

“We are struggling a lot to find the balance, and I didn’t enjoy one single lap this weekend, just because of the state of the track,” he said in 2021. “The layout is amazing, but the grip we are experiencing, I don’t think is nice. I know it’s the same for everyone, but for me personally, it’s just not enjoyable to drive.”