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Formula 1 will return to Portugal with the addition of a race in Portimao in the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Portimao hosted two races during the COVID-impacted seasons that required additional venues to be identified at short notice, with an October 2020 race being followed by an event in May 2021. That marked a return for the Portuguese Grand Prix for the first time since 1996 at Estoril, and reignited interest in future inclusion on the calendar.
F1 has now confirmed that Portimao will be included on the 2027 and 2028 schedules, effectively replacing the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort that will drop off following the upcoming season.
“I’m delighted to see Portimao return to the Formula 1 calendar and for the sport to continue to ignite the passion of our incredible Portuguese fanbase,” F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said. “The circuit delivers on-track excitement from the first corner to the checkered flag, and its energy lifts fans out of their seats.”
Domenicali says the interest to host F1 races is the highest it has ever been – despite the short-term nature of the contract – and the circuit’s chairman Jaime Costa says government backing was crucial to Portimao’s return.
“We are thrilled to welcome Formula 1 back to Portugal and to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve,” Costa said. “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.
“This achievement was only made possible with the continuous support – since the beginning – of the Portuguese Government. Portimao’s unique ‘rollercoaster’ layout will challenge the best drivers in the world and create a spectacle that fans will love. We look forward to creating unforgettable moments and setting new standards of excellence on and off the track.”
The return of Portimao will come one year after neighboring Spain hosts two races in a season, with Barcelona and the new event in Madrid on the 2026 calendar. F1 also has interest from potential races in Thailand – where a border conflict with Cambodia appears to have cast doubt on progress – and Argentina, with track improvements taking place for MotoGP in Buenos Aires.
