Formula One will return to Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit in Portimao in 2027 and 2028, following the decision to remove the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort from the calendar after 2026.
Formula One confirmed the two-year agreement in an official statement released on Tuesday. The 4.6-kilometre circuit in southern Portugal last hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 and 2021, when the championship relied on stand-in venues due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Portimao holds special significance in Formula One history. In 2020, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton secured his 92nd career victory at the circuit, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record. Hamilton also claimed victory at the venue the following year.
Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali said interest in hosting races has reached unprecedented levels. He thanked the Portuguese government and local authorities for their support, noting that the agreement’s financial terms were not disclosed.
BREAKING: Portugal to return to F1 calendar in 2027 and 2028 with a race in Portimao as replacement for Dutch Grand Prix🚨 pic.twitter.com/GdoO23B9bC
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 16, 2025Portugal’s Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida said hosting a Formula One race in the Algarve aligns with the country’s regional development strategy. He added that the event would enhance the value of local territories and generate new economic opportunities.
Portugal first hosted a Formula One race in Porto in 1958. The championship later visited circuits at Monsanto and Estoril, near Lisbon. The late Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna claimed his first pole position and maiden grand prix victory at Estoril in 1985.
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Formula One announced last year that Zandvoort, the home race of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, would leave the calendar after the 2026 season. The championship currently features a record 24 races, prompting discussions about rotating European rounds to accommodate new venues.
As part of this approach, Belgium’s iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit will be absent in 2028 and 2030 under a contract extension that runs until 2031. The return of Portimao reflects Formula One’s strategy to balance tradition with global expansion.
