Portugal is officially back on the Formula 1 map.
After years of uncertainty, pandemic-affected races, and intense behind-the-scenes negotiations, the world’s most prestigious motorsport championship will return to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in 2027 and 2028, restoring Portugal’s place among Formula 1’s elite destinations.
The confirmation, revealed by SIC, marks the culmination of months of political and sporting intent — and the rebirth of a historic relationship between Formula 1 and Portuguese soil.
From Political Promise to Official Announcement
The news comes months after Prime Minister Luís Montenegro publicly declared the Government’s intention to formalize Formula 1’s return during the traditional PSD Festa do Pontal, signaling strong state backing for the project.
That intention now becomes reality.
The official announcement will be made this Tuesday by the Minister of Economy, Manuel Castro Almeida, confirming Portugal’s successful bid to host the championship once again — despite the fierce global competition for calendar slots.
Portimão’s Pandemic Debut — And Its Redemption
Formula 1 first arrived at Portimão in 2020, under extraordinary circumstances.
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the calendar, forcing Formula 1 to explore alternative venues. The Algarve circuit stepped in — and delivered.
- 2020: The Portuguese Grand Prix took place in October, with 27,500 spectators, the maximum allowed under pandemic restrictions.
- 2021: The race was held behind closed doors, with empty grandstands due to health regulations.
Despite these limitations, the circuit left a lasting impression — not on fans in the stands, but on the drivers themselves.
A Circuit the Drivers Never Forgot
Portimão quickly earned unanimous praise from the Formula 1 grid.
- Lewis Hamilton, winner of the 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix, openly expressed his desire to see Portugal become a permanent fixture: “I grew up watching the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril, so it was really special to return to Portugal to race.”
- Fernando Alonso described the track as “very interesting”, highlighting its unique corners, blind crests, and the heavy demands it places on tyres, particularly through the final corner.
- Esteban Ocon called the circuit “spectacular and complicated”, emphasizing the blind exits that, in his view, are unlike anything else on the Formula 1 calendar.
Portimão, in short, delivered what modern Formula 1 often lacks: character.
Domenicali’s Warning — And Portugal’s Victory
In September, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed that Portugal, Turkey, and Germany (Hockenheim) had all expressed interest in hosting future Grands Prix.
But his message was clear — and blunt:
“There are very few slots available. Those who sit at the table need to have financial power.”
He also stressed the importance of state support — something Portugal clearly brought to the negotiation.
Against all odds, and in a calendar more crowded than ever, Portugal secured not one, but two seasons.
A Love Story That Began in 1958
Portugal’s Formula 1 story is not new. It is deeply woven into the sport’s history.
- 1958: The first Portuguese Grand Prix was held on the legendary Boavista street circuit, in Porto.
Stirling Moss claimed victory, placing Portugal firmly on the motorsport world stage. - 1985: At the Estoril Circuit, a young Ayrton Senna scored his first Formula 1 victory, driving the Lotus-Renault 97T — a moment that would define an era.
Between 1984 and 1996, Estoril became the home of the Portuguese Grand Prix, producing unforgettable moments, including Senna’s wins in 1985, 1986, and 1988, forging an emotional bond between Portuguese fans and Formula 1.
The Photograph That Defined an Era
Few images in Formula 1 history carry as much symbolism as the photograph taken before the 1986 Portuguese Grand Prix.
Four legends.
One track.
One moment.
Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, and Nelson Piquet, standing together at Estoril — rivals, champions, icons.
The image captured not just the power of that generation, but the respect, rivalry, and aura that made Formula 1 what it is today.
Portugal Returns — Not as a Stopgap, but as a Statement
Formula 1 is no longer returning to Portugal out of necessity.
It is returning by choice.
Portimão is no longer a pandemic substitute.
It is a proven circuit.
A driver favorite.
A historic venue reborn.
And in 2027 and 2028, Portugal will once again take its place under the global spotlight — not as a memory, but as a modern chapter in Formula 1’s ongoing story.
The engines are coming back.
So is the emotion.
