For a few unforgettable moments in 2020 and 2021, the sound of Formula 1 cars echoed through the hills of the Algarve. At that time, millions of viewers around the world discovered that the Portimão circuit, with its dramatic elevation changes and sweeping corners, was an ideal stage for top-tier racing. Then, the F1 calendar returned to its usual long-term contracts and high-budget venues, and Portugal was left wondering whether it had seen its last Grand Prix for a very long time.
In 2025, that question has begun to feel urgent again. Portugal’s prime minister publicly announced that the country has everything ready to bring Formula 1 back to Portuguese soil and that 2027 is the target year. For motorsports fans across the country, this was the most encouraging sign since Hamilton’s 2021 victory at Portimão. However, to understand whether a return is realistic, it helps to explore Portugal’s long and fascinating history with Formula 1 and to see how recent developments may shift the balance in its favor.
A Short History of F1 in Portugal
The Early Street Circuits of Porto and Lisbon
Portugal’s first taste of international motorsport came in the early 1950s, when the Portuguese Grand Prix was run as a sports car race on the Boavista street circuit in Porto. The track snaked through public streets lined with buildings, cobblestones, and tram tracks, which created an unpredictable and extremely dangerous environment for drivers. The event later moved to the Monsanto Park circuit in Lisbon. It was a narrow and twisting layout that offered little margin for error.
Portugal officially joined the Formula 1 World Championship calendar in 1958. The races alternated between Porto and Lisbon, and although the country’s participation was brief, the events delivered some memorable moments. Stirling Moss famously defended Mike Hawthorn after an on-track incident in 1958, which helped Hawthorn keep the points he needed to win the world championship. In the following years, accidents and safety concerns became too significant to ignore, and by 1960 Portugal stepped away from the F1 calendar for more than two decades.
Estoril – 1984 to 1996
Formula 1 returned to Portugal in 1984 at the Autódromo do Estoril, a modern circuit outside Lisbon that quickly built a legendary reputation. The first race at Estoril decided the world championship as Niki Lauda edged out Alain Prost by half a point. In 1985, torrential rain transformed the circuit into a treacherous lake, and a young Ayrton Senna delivered a masterclass in wet-weather driving that earned him his first Formula 1 victory.
Throughout the late eighties and into the mid-nineties, Estoril became a beloved stop on the calendar. However, as safety standards rose, the circuit struggled to meet increasingly strict requirements. Renovations stalled, negotiations grew difficult, and, by 1996, the Portuguese Grand Prix disappeared once again. From that moment on, Estoril remained a beloved nostalgic memory rather than a realistic option for the modern Formula 1 world.
Portimão’s Spotlight – The 2020 and 2021 Comeback
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Formula 1 to rebuild its 2020 calendar with flexible, fast-to-organize venues, Portugal received an unexpected opportunity. The Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, completed in 2008, offered an ideal combination of modern safety standards, demanding corners, and thrilling elevation changes. It was already popular among motorcycle racers and testing programs, but it had never hosted a Formula 1 race until the pandemic opened the door.
The 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix
The 2020 race became an instant classic. Lewis Hamilton claimed his 92nd victory and broke Michael Schumacher’s record for most Formula 1 wins – and he did it on Portuguese soil. The hills of Portimão created a dramatic backdrop for his achievement, and the global attention placed a bright spotlight on the Algarve.
The 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Formula 1 returned in 2021 for a spring race that once again showcased the circuit’s exciting nature. Hamilton won again, and many drivers praised the layout for being challenging, unpredictable, and, above all, fun. Fans hoped that Portimão had secured a long-term place on the calendar, but once the pandemic disruptions ended and traditional contracts resumed, Portugal found itself without a spot for the 2022 season and beyond.
Why Portugal Fell Off the Calendar
Portugal’s absence had little to do with the quality of the circuit or the enthusiasm of fans. The modern Formula 1 calendar is capped at 24 races, and nearly all of those slots are secured by long-term agreements worth tens of millions of dollars. New bids arrive every year from countries offering large financial packages and state-of-the-art facilities. Even successful events can be pushed aside simply because they cannot match the financial or political weight of competing hosts.
Portugal faced a simple reality – a great circuit is not enough. To return, it needed a long-term strategy, government support, and a strong financial case. For several years, these elements were not aligned.
But now, that alignment is beginning to change.
The 2027 Push – What Has Changed
In 2025, Portugal’s prime minister announced that the country is prepared to bring Formula 1 back to the Algarve. During his speech, he signaled a clearer and more strategic commitment than at any point since Portimão last appeared on the calendar. Rather than offering vague enthusiasm, the government outlined a realistic plan centered on securing a race for 2027, which gives all parties enough time to negotiate commercial terms, align schedules, and ensure that the circuit remains in top condition. This multi-year window is important because Formula 1 contracts are complex, financially demanding, and often influenced by long-term commitments from other nations.
Several factors now work in Portugal’s favor. The Algarve International Circuit already holds the required certification, has successfully hosted two Formula 1 weekends, and continues to welcome major international events such as MotoGP, which helps maintain and justify ongoing upgrades to its facilities. These existing strengths mean the track does not need to be significantly reinvented. It will require only continued investment and political backing.
That political backing has become far more visible. Hosting a Grand Prix requires a combination of public support, private investment, and strong logistical coordination. The Portuguese government indicated its willingness to participate meaningfully in the process and conveyed an understanding that the benefits of an F1 return extend well beyond motorsport and into tourism, international visibility, and the broader economic health of the Algarve region. With the Algarve positioned as one of Portugal’s major economic drivers, especially outside the summer season, a Grand Prix weekend would serve as a high-impact promotional tool capable of drawing a substantial number of visitors and global media attention.
Individually, none of these developments guarantee that Formula 1 will return. Together, however, they represent the strongest and most organized effort Portugal has made in decades. The strategy is now focused on presenting a coordinated and compelling case for why the sport should return to Portimão and why 2027 will be the ideal moment to make it happen!
Where Would F1 Race in Portugal?
Algarve International Circuit, Portimão
If Formula 1 returns, Portimão is the clear frontrunner. The circuit already possesses the necessary approval for F1 racing and has proven itself with two successful events. Drivers enjoy its rollercoaster layout and fast rhythm, and the region has the hotels, highways, and transport infrastructure needed for international events. Politically, financially, and logistically, the Algarve is the centerpiece of Portugal’s push.
What About Estoril?
The Autódromo do Estoril remains active and full of history, but it would require significant investment to meet today’s Formula 1 standards. The government has shown no interest in revisiting Estoril as a candidate. For now, it remains a beloved chapter of Portugal’s racing past rather than a realistic host for future races.
Why F1 Returning Makes Sense
Why Portugal Benefits
A Grand Prix weekend brings tens of thousands of visitors, international media coverage, and a powerful marketing boost. The Algarve in particular benefits from shoulder-season tourism, and a race held in spring or autumn would attract fans from across Europe. The event also supports jobs, hospitality businesses, transportation networks, and a broader motorsport ecosystem.
Why Formula 1 Benefits
Portimão offers a layout unlike most circuits currently on the calendar. Its elevation changes and flowing curves create visually stunning racing and challenge drivers in ways many modern tracks do not. As Formula 1 continues to expand globally, it also values venues that offer reliability and strong fan engagement. Portugal proved both during the pandemic seasons and earned a large amount of goodwill that could play a part in future decisions.
So Is F1 Coming Back to Portugal?
Right now, nothing is confirmed. Formula 1 has not added Portugal to the 2025 or 2026 calendars, and the sport is careful about announcing new races until contracts are fully secured. However, the conditions for an F1 return are better today than they have been in many years. Portugal is organized, publicly committed, and strategically focused on 2027.
Portugal currently does not have a confirmed race, but it has a serious plan and a strong argument. If the negotiations succeed, the roar of Formula 1 engines could once again rev their way through the hills of Portimão and give fans a long-awaited chance to see their country back on the world stage of motorsports.
For now, it is a story worth watching, especially for anyone hoping to head down to the Algarve for the weekend and catch the full-throttle excitement of a Grand Prix! Let’s see what 2027 brings!
