In case you didn’t know, the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is known for being a track of ups and downs, hence the name “rollercoaster”, such is the fun of driving at high speed that all drivers find at this Portuguese track. All this to say that, yes, Portugal will once again host a Formula 1® Grand Prix in the 2027 and 2028 calendars.
The promise made this summer that motorsport’s premier event will once again be held in Portugal for two seasons is thus “signed”, with the government anticipating a vital economic impact, while the F1® organizers celebrate the return to one of the most “challenging” tracks in the championship.
The return of “Russian Mountain”
Speculation is over: Portugal will once again hear the roar of Formula 1® engines. The championship organization confirmed this morning, December 16 (2026), that the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA), in Portimão, will host the Portuguese Grand Prix in the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Unlike the 2020 and 2021 editions, marked by the pandemic and the urgency of filling canceled calendars, this return is planned, structured and 100% public.
Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula 1®, was full of praise for the Portuguese track when it was made official. Known in the paddock as the “rollercoaster”, due to its steep gradients and blind corners, the Portimão circuit is seen as a guarantee of spectacle:
I’m delighted to see Portimão return to the Formula 1® calendar and for the sport to continue to ignite the passion of our incredible Portuguese fan base. The circuit provides on-track excitement from the first corner to the chequered flag, and its energy lifts fans out of their seats. I look forward to working together again to ensure that Portimão returns to the calendar in emphatic style.”
Manuel Castro Almeida, Minister for the Economy and Territorial Cohesion, stressed the direct impact on the national value chain:
The F1® Portuguese Grand Prix will have a direct impact on economic activity, generating opportunities throughout the economic chain – from tourism to commerce, and from services to SMEs – projecting the country as a competitive and reliable destination. Holding the Grand Prix in the Algarve reinforces our regional development strategy, enhancing territories and creating opportunities for local economies. This will be an event that, as well as being a source of prestige for our country, will enhance Portugal’s image around the world.”
New regulations now in force
If you’re a fan of this motorsport, you’ll no doubt be aware that, from 2026 onwards, the cars will feature new regulations , with shorter and narrower single-seaters, and the intention to reduce the difficulty of overtaking, which has always been a negative point for this championship.
In this sense, in the 2027 and 2028 calendar you will already be able to see these updates in full operation, which will bring even more excitement to these races.
A place in history
We would like to remind you once again that the last time the engines were heard in Portugal (although only on television, due to the COVID-19 pandemic) was in the 2020 and 2021 editions, with one of Formula 1®’s greatest champions, Lewis Hamilton, securing two wins in a row on home soil.
It should also be noted that the 19th Portuguese Grand Prix will be held in 2027, in a race that began on Portuguese soil in 1958, at the famous Boavista Circuit.
It’s true that new drivers join the paddock every year, but if the race were to take place tomorrow, which driver would have the most to gain or lose from the challenging nature and unique characteristics of the Portuguese circuit?
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