Formula 1 is heading back to the Algarve on a two-year deal, with Portimão stepping into the calendar rotation after Zandvoort’s contract ends in 2026.
By Swikblog Desk • Updated: Dec 16, 2025 • swikblog.com
What’s been announced
- Portugal will host Formula 1 races in 2027 and 2028 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão).
- The agreement is a two-year deal involving Portuguese partners and the Portimão promoter.
- Portimão’s return comes as the Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort) drops off after 2026, creating space in the rotation.
Formula 1 has confirmed a return to Portugal in 2027 and 2028, bringing the world championship back to the rollercoaster layout of Portimão on the Algarve coast. The announcement effectively places Portugal in the calendar rotation as the Dutch Grand Prix reaches the end of its current deal in 2026.
The return is expected to be welcomed across the UK and European fanbase, because Portimão is one of those rare modern circuits that still feels old-school: blind crests, big elevation changes, and corners that invite mistakes when drivers push to the limit.
Why Portimão is back now
Portimão first entered many fans’ “must-have” lists during the pandemic seasons, when F1 reshuffled schedules and leaned heavily on European venues that could host at short notice. The Algarve circuit staged grands prix in 2020 and 2021, and the track’s natural terrain created a different kind of racing rhythm compared with flatter, stop-start layouts.
This time, the return is about long-term calendar management rather than emergency planning. With the global schedule packed tighter than ever, F1 has increasingly used rotation to keep key markets involved while controlling the total number of races. The official announcement from Formula 1’s corporate site confirms the two-year deal and the parties involved, including Portuguese government/tourism partners and the promoter behind the Algarve venue. (See the announcement on Formula 1’s corporate site.)
What happens to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort?
Zandvoort remains on the calendar through 2026, which is expected to be the final race year under its current contract. From 2027, Portugal’s return means the Dutch slot is effectively the one being replaced in the rotation. Sky Sports and ESPN both report that Portimão is set to step into that opening on the 2027 schedule. (Sky Sports report, ESPN report)
It’s worth noting that this isn’t necessarily “goodbye forever” for Zandvoort—rotation deals can change, and contracts can be revisited. But for now, the headline is clear: Portugal is back, and the Algarve will host F1 in 2027 and 2028.
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What to expect from racing at Portimão
Portimão’s appeal is visual and tactical. The circuit climbs and drops like a coastal rollercoaster, and that affects everything: braking points arrive over crests, traction matters more on corner exits, and drivers can’t always see the apex until the last moment.
For teams, it’s a track that can punish poor balance. For drivers, it’s an invitation to attack—especially in qualifying—because one confident lap can be worth a lot on a circuit where rhythm is everything.
The Race described the comeback as a surprise return, reflecting how crowded the calendar conversation has become as F1 weighs new locations and renewals against historic venues. You can read their take here: The Race.
Timeline: what we know (and what we don’t)
What’s confirmed: Portugal will host two seasons—2027 and 2028—at Portimão under the newly announced agreement. What’s not confirmed yet: the exact race weekend dates, the broader 2027 calendar order, and any additional rotation moves that might follow.
The practical next step is the full 2027 race calendar release, which typically locks in the precise dates and the final list of venues. Until then, fans can treat Portimão’s return as a rare piece of calendar news that feels both modern and nostalgic: a newer track that quickly became a classic.
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