Last week, non-other than the Prime Minister of Portugal announced he is preparing to bring Formula 1 back to the Algarve. Luis Montenegro confirmed that the country is ready to “formalise” the return of the championship to the Algarve International Circuit near Portimão in 2027.
Speaking at the political gathering Na Festa do Pontal, Montenegro highlighted the importance of major events in promoting the region. “One of the circumstances that most contributes to promoting this region is major events,” he said. “We have secured the MotoGP, the world’s premier motorcycling event, for 2025 and 2026. And I can tell you that we have everything ready to formalise the return of Formula 1 to the Algarve next year, in 2027.”
The Portimão circuit first hosted Formula 1 in 2020, stepping in during the COVID-19 pandemic as other venues found their countries had banned sporting events and the influx of foreign visitors. It returned in 2021 and quickly earned a reputation as a fan favourite, its sweeping elevation changes and technical layout delivering strong racing. Both races were won by Lewis Hamilton, including his record-breaking 92nd career victory, which surpassed the total made by the legendary Michael Schumacher.
Portugal stakes an F1 claim
Despite its popularity, the Algarve disappeared from the schedule after just two seasons. If Montenegro’s promise is realised, the championship’s return will be greeted with enthusiasm by fans eager to see F1 cars back on the undulating Portuguese circuit.
Currently the F1 calendar has 24 venues each year, despite the Concorde agreement allowing for up to 25. F1’s CEO, Stefan Domenicali had mooted the idea of increasing the calendar to more than half the weekends in a year. “I would say there is potential to go to 30. In terms of the interest we see all around the world. It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are the historical values we need to see on the calendar,” he told Sky F1 in 2023.
Yet that year was the first time the teams had experienced a 24 race schedule, with many complaining by the end of the season it was about all they could manage. Domenicali then suggested the variety of locations visited by F1 could yet be increased but with certain tracks rotating with another on a bi-annul basis.
African nations nowhere yet
The recent additions to the schedule have been focused on locations in the USA, with Miami making its debut in 2023 and Las Vegas following on the following year. However, the once long list of potential hosts appears to have somewhat dried up, with South Africa failing to make a deal for 2025, as was expected two seasons ago.
Now Rwanda have thrown their hat into the ring to host an African Grand Prix, but neither the historic Kyalami (SA) not the planned new all purpose built track in Kigali are pressing hard for an event in 2027. South Korea have made noises about an F1 return, although it is unlikely to be hosted at the troubled South Korea International circuit designed by Hermann Tilke. Again no detailed plans for a race in the more populated North have been committed to paper.
Thailand too is rumoured to be talking about a potential F1 event, but the discussions have been mostly of a preparatory nature. Argentina briefly expressed an interest, following the debut of eke son Franco Colapinto for Williams last year, though again nothing concrete is in the pipeline.
Mercedes “5 year advantage on everyone”
F1’s next addition in 2026
F1’s newest circuit will debut in Madrid next season, although for now Barcelona remains on the calendar too. The circuit de Catalunya is expected to rotate with Spa in Belgium, who have races confirmed until 2031, but will skip 2028 and 2030. The sport Sid goodbye to the iconic Imola this year as two races in Italy are now deemed not commercially viable. But how is Domenicali going to achieve his 30 venues, with twelve rotating rotating biannually is anyone’s guess.
As the teams return after the Sumer break to the sand dunes of Zandvoort, this will be the penultimate running of the Dutch Grand Prix. It is possible it could return on a rotational basis, although the Dutch hosts have said they are not seeking a contract renewal currently, and would prefer to go out “on a high” in 2026.
Formula One does indeed bring commercial value to each country it attends and with hating fees in the tens of millions the returns are often many times greater than that. Las Vegas which has contracted F1 on the least busy weekend of its entire year, reported for 2024 a boost to there city’s revenues of $934m. F1 visitors spend an average of $2,400 each after tickets, almost four times as much as the typical tourist spend.
Long list of F1 wannabe’s no more
Yet the once long list for new F1 hosts, no longer exists and it seems the odd track here and there will arrive every few seasons. The African venues have a ling way to go before their dream becomes a reality, and Thailand also have made little progress since announcing their interest a year ago now.
Given the seniority of the Portuguese minister who announced his hopes for an F1 return, it cold be this will be the next addition to the F1 calendar in 2027. The circuit is already constructed and has been awarded the required FIA category one license to host F1 and the history if racing in Portugal stretches well back intone the F1 history books.
The iconic Estoril circuit just west of Lisbon made its debut on the calendar in 1984, after a 24-year gap without a Portuguese Grand Prix. It immediately set the scene for the culmination of a titanic title battle between Alain Prost and Niki Lauda. A year later it was Ayrton Senna who claimed his maiden F1 victory in a rain soaked event, the first of 41 in his tragically shortened racing career.
The owners of the circuit were lax when the FIA requested improvements to the facilities and so in 1997 the circuit was cut from the calendar. Yet Portimao is a thoroughly modern piece of real estate and has proven to be a favourite with drivers and fans alike. It appears of all the potential suitors to host an F1 event, Portugal at the moment is the most serious candidate and Domenicali is keen to keep the momentum of new F1 tracks going.
Verstappen now explains his silence, as Mercedes rumours grew
The Formula 1 paddock is never short on whispers, but few tales have rippled through 2025 quite like the idea that Max Verstappen could trade Red Bull’s wings for Mercedes’ silver arrows.
It started innocently enough. George Russell admitted his own contract talks with Mercedes had been “paused,” fuelling speculation that team boss Toto Wolff was leaving space for Verstappen. Wolff, never one to avoid a headline, confirmed conversations had taken place but played down the likelihood of a move. And just like that, the rumour mill shifted into overdrive. Was Verstappen preparing to jump ship?
For weeks, the Dutchman said nothing, allowing gossip to swell unchecked. And therein lay the intrigue. For a driver who is usually blunt to the point of brusque, Verstappen’s silence felt calculated. Eventually, he has addressed the matter with F1.com. “There’s always other people speaking a lot, while I’m not really talking, because I don’t need to,” he explained. “I don’t need to say anything.” His point was clear: let others chatter, while he focused on the track and his future with Red Bull, to which he is tied until 2028. “It makes no sense anyway, it’s a waste of time. I’m very focused on ’26, to look ahead and make sure we nail the regulations, and that we are competitive from the start.”…. READ MORE
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