Formula 1's shortened race length is only a temporary fix, with full-distance grands prix returning to the calendar in 2028.
Formula 1 is hitting rewind on race length. Grands prix will return to their standard distance in 2028, which means the shorter maximum length brought in for next season is a one-year adjustment and not a permanent change.
The move reverses a trim to the maximum race length that will shape the coming campaign. Once 2028 arrives, teams and drivers will be back to the traditional format, with the full-length races fans have known for decades.
For the paddock, that means strategists will have to plan for a longer afternoon again. Tyre wear, fuel and energy management, and pit-stop timing all matter more as a race stretches out, and the teams that cope best with those demands usually pull clear of the pack.
Fans can expect the usual debate over whether shorter or longer races make for better racing. For now, the schedule is clear: a shortened maximum for the next season, then full-length grands prix again from 2028.
