Formula 1's two-year return to Portimao may be less a long-term endorsement than a holding pattern, as the championship keeps calendar space open for future street races
Formula 1’s decision to bring the Portuguese Grand Prix back in 2027 and 2028 is, on the surface, a popular and logical move.
Portimao is a proven circuit, capable of producing decent racing and striking TV images, and its return fills a confirmed vacancy on the calendar following Zandvoort‘s – and potentially Barcelona‘s – exit after 2026.
Yet the unusually short, two-year contract suggests that Portugal’s role may be transitional rather than permanent.
Rather than signalling a long-term recommitment to traditional European circuits, the deal appears to buy Formula 1 time.
With demand to host grands prix at an all-time high, the championship is carefully managing limited calendar space while major future projects – particularly in the Middle East and on street circuits – move closer to reality.
One obvious factor is Saudi Arabia. The country’s new Qiddiya circuit is being developed as a future flagship venue, designed to host Formula 1 on a permanent basis from 2028.
Portugal made a brief return to the calendar in 2020-21
Grand Prix Photo
In the meantime, Jeddah continues to deliver one of the fastest street circuits on the calendar, and Saudi Arabia’s deepening financial and strategic involvement in Formula 1 has shown no sign of slowing.
Aramco’s growing influence as a title partner inevitably raises the question of whether Formula 1 could eventually accommodate two Saudi Arabian events, at least temporarily.
A Jeddah/Qiddiya double-header would be commercially unprecedented, but not inconsistent with F1’s current direction. The United States already hosts three races, and the Middle East has become a cornerstone of the series’ expansion strategy.
In that context, Portugal’s two-year deal begins to look less like caution and more like contingency planning.
Portimao offers Formula 1 a reliable European placeholder while it assesses when, and how, a second Saudi race, or another highly profitable venue, might fit without overcommitting the calendar too early.
Street circuits more broadly remain part of that calculation. Formula 1’s leadership has been open about its interest in city-based events that unlock new audiences, political backing and commercial partnerships.
While not every proposed project has come to fruition, the pipeline remains active.
The Qiddiya circuit is expected to be ready for 2028
Qiddiya
The appeal is obvious. Street races offer destination branding, government support and unique visual identity – all factors that weigh heavily in Formula 1’s modern commercial model.
The downside is logistical complexity, political uncertainty, and more distancing from traditional venues that hardcore F1 fans prefer. The first two factors make timing difficult to predict. Short-term contracts elsewhere provide flexibility while those projects either mature or quietly fall away.
Portimao, by contrast, is uncomplicated.
The infrastructure exists, the promoter understands Formula 1’s requirements, and the Portuguese government sees clear value in the event as a tourism driver. That makes it an ideal short-term solution, even if its long-term future remains uncertain.
As F1 expands globally, the future of each grand prix depends on complex, evolving contracts between race promoters and commercial rights holders, with some circuits secured long-term and others facing uncertainty
By
Pablo Elizalde
This balancing act also helps explain why Formula 1 has become increasingly reluctant to offer long European contracts. Traditional circuits now compete not just with each other, but with entire national strategies built around hosting grands prix as economic and soft-power tools. When Stefano Domenicali speaks of unprecedented demand, he is describing a marketplace in which flexibility is more valuable than loyalty.
That does not mean Portimao is dispensable. On the contrary, its inclusion shows that Formula 1 still values more traditional circuits that deliver genuine sporting challenge and atmosphere. But it does mean that such venues are no longer insulated from wider commercial currents.
If a second Saudi Arabian race becomes viable once Qiddiya is ready – whether alongside Jeddah or as a transitional arrangement – space will need to be found. The same is true if another major street project reaches the finish line. In both scenarios, a short-term European return makes strategic sense.
For Portugal, the message is nuanced. The country has become a credible host, secured two valuable seasons on the calendar, and positioned Portimao as a dependable option in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Whether that leads to a longer future will depend less on what happens on track and more on how Formula 1 chooses to deploy its finite calendar slots.
