From 2027, the Portuguese circuit will once again be part of the Formula 1 calendar for at least two more seasons, bringing top-tier racing back to the Algarve region.
Formula 1 returns to Portugal
The official announcement from Formula 1 has confirmed the spectacular Portimão circuit will return to the world championship calendar, hosting the Portuguese Grand Prix for at least the 2027 and 2028 seasons. This effectively replaces another European track, Zandvoort, which will be removed from the calendar at the end of the 2026 season.
This is the perfect moment to revisit the brief but fascinating history connecting the Algarve circuit to Formula 1. Portimão previously hosted two Grands Prix in 2020 and 2021, during a period when the championship had to rely on alternative European tracks outside the traditional calendar to compensate for the impossibility of organizing several overseas races, particularly in Asia.
The last race in 2021
The most recent race at Portimão took place in 2021 and was marked by a tense battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, a rivalry that would define the entire season. In that third round of the championship, Hamilton ultimately prevailed, mounting a comeback from third place to victory, beating Verstappen and his teammate Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes.
The unforgettable 2020 race
However, the truly iconic Portimão race occurred the previous year, in 2020. Unlike the early-season events, this Grand Prix was held on October 25, the 12th round of the 17-race season, which was uniquely structured due to global circumstances. The weather played a decisive role, as a light but persistent drizzle fell on the track just moments before the start, creating chaos.
With 20 cars struggling for grip and sliding off the track at nearly every corner, the most notable performers at the start were Carlos Sainz, who jumped from seventh to second in the opening lap before taking the lead for the next four laps, and especially Kimi Räikkönen. The Finnish driver, racing for Sauber, took advantage of the softer tires to deliver an unforgettable masterstroke, leaping from 16th on the grid to sixth in a single lap. This brilliant move was later recognized by the FIA as the best action of the season.
As the race progressed, positions gradually stabilized, with the Mercedes cars leading and Max Verstappen in pursuit. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc drove an excellent race to finish fourth, although over a minute behind the winner, Lewis Hamilton. That victory was far from ordinary for Hamilton: by claiming his 92nd career win, he became the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 victories. It was a milestone moment in motorsport, setting the stage for new chapters to be written starting in 2027.
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