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Formula 1 could shorten selected grands prix next year for the first time in decades, as the sport weighs the consequences of a proposed overhaul to its engine power distribution rules.
Every race on the current calendar runs to a minimum distance of 305 kilometres — with Monaco the lone exception at 260km due to its unique street circuit layout. That standard has remained essentially untouched for years. But a proposal to shift the balance of power between combustion and electric units could force a rethink.
F1 is considering moving away from the existing 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, rebalancing the ratio to approximately 60-40 in favour of the combustion engine. While Toto Wolff and several team principals have thrown their support behind the 60-40 proposal, the change comes with a significant practical implication: higher fuel consumption.
A more combustion-heavy power unit means cars will burn more fuel, particularly at the most demanding circuits. That, in turn, requires larger fuel tanks — presenting a direct headache for teams planning to carry over their existing chassis into next season rather than building a new car.
To sidestep costly chassis redesigns, a compromise is being discussed: shortening the fuel-intensive races by one or two laps, and limiting pre-race formation laps to just one.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane confirmed the direction of travel is already taking shape at team principal level. "I think that's a very straightforward one," he said. "On the chassis side, we have already spoken and come to an agreement, certainly at team principal level, that if anyone wanted to carry their chassis over and that wasn't quite big enough to do the 310K race, we would look at selective races and – of course only where absolutely necessary – shorten them by maybe one or two laps, limiting laps to grid to one. So of course maximising any potential race length, but that's already in place and ready to go."
For McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, the potential reduction in race distances is not a concession — it is a necessary tool to make the broader engine proposal viable. He described such adjustments as "enablers that are part of this proposal that make this proposal achievable."
Stella was unambiguous in his backing for the engine rebalance itself, framing it as a matter of collective interest for the sport. Carlos Sainz has similarly called on the FIA to push the 60-40 split through decisively, arguing the sport should be left with no choice but to adopt it.
"It is a proposal, the 60-40, that is for the good of the sport," Stella said. "I think there's a general interest that prevails over the particular interest, and this is an important opportunity for the F1 community to make sure that the sport is in a strong position. So we do hope that this process will be successful."
With team principal consensus apparently building and practical solutions already mapped out, the machinery for change appears to be in motion — even if it means trimming a lap or two from the races fans have long taken for granted.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.