A surprise announcement has arrived regarding the Formula 1 calendar for 2027: a track that is particularly special to Lewis Hamilton is set to return to the World Championship. Formula 1 is preparing to welcome back a historic Grand Prix, and for the seven-time world champion, now driving for Ferrari, it represents excellent news. While the official confirmation of the agreement is still pending, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has expressed certainty that Portugal will rejoin the Formula 1 calendar with the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. This circuit hosted the sport in 2020 and 2021, during the difficult pandemic years, and on both occasions Lewis Hamilton dominated, taking two consecutive victories at the wheel of his Mercedes.
The future of Formula 1 is gradually taking shape. The sport continues to grow at an impressive pace, with an ever-expanding global fan base, a massive presence on social media platforms, and a strong appeal among younger audiences who dedicate both time and money to following their favorite drivers and teams. This scenario creates ideal conditions for sponsors and investors, who are eager to secure their share of a market that is becoming increasingly lucrative.
In recent years, more and more countries have sought to join the Formula 1 calendar. Some are exotic destinations, such as Thailand or the frequently discussed possibility of a race in Zanzibar. Others are established circuits, like Turkey and Hockenheim, which are aiming for a return. Meanwhile, entirely new cities are preparing to host the premier category of motorsport, as Madrid will do for the first time in 2026. And beyond all this, there remains Formula 1’s long-standing dream: to return to Africa and bring Grand Prix racing to a continent that has been absent from the calendar for far too long. Within this dynamic, traditional European venues have faced mounting difficulties in keeping their place on the schedule. However, from Portugal comes encouraging news.
Portugal ready to return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027
The announcement came from Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, who was quoted by Rádio Renascença. He explained that major international sporting events are crucial to the promotion of the Algarve region. According to Montenegro, the government has already secured MotoGP races – the world’s top motorcycle championship – for 2025 and 2026. He added that everything is now in place to finalize Formula 1’s return to the Algarve in 2027.
Montenegro acknowledged that hosting such events requires a significant financial commitment from the government. However, he stressed that the benefits, both in terms of direct economic impact and indirect promotion of the country, make the investment more than worthwhile.
The Portuguese Grand Prix has a long and intertwined history with Formula 1. Its first official appearance on the World Championship calendar dates back to 1958, when Stirling Moss claimed victory at the Boavista circuit driving for Vanwall. The following year, in 1959, the event moved to Monsanto, where Moss once again emerged victorious. From 1984 until 1996, the race found a stable home at Estoril, hosting iconic battles and becoming a much-loved European venue.
More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula 1 returned to Portugal with the Algarve International Circuit, which hosted the races in 2020 and 2021. On both occasions, Lewis Hamilton triumphed behind the wheel of his Mercedes, further cementing his status in the history of the event. To this day, the British driver remains the only active Formula 1 competitor to have won in Portugal, making the potential return of the Grand Prix a particularly positive development for him as he continues his career with Scuderia Ferrari.
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