The Portuguese Prime Minister’s announcement last week that the country is ready to “formalise” the return of Formula 1 to the Algarve in 2027 has been met with great enthusiasm in the region.
Speaking at PSD’s traditional summer party in the Algarve, Festa do Pontal, Luís Montenegro said the government has “everything ready” for F1’s comeback to the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, which last hosted races in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the timing of Montenegro’s announcement has been strongly criticised (given it was made at a party in the south of Portugal while substantial areas of the north are being destroyed by vicious fires), it has also brought renewed hope for local leaders who have been calling for the return of the world’s most popular motorsport for years.
Speaking to sports newspaper Record, Portimão mayor Álvaro Bila described the announcement as “excellent news”, and applauded the decision to bring F1 back “to one of the best racetracks in the world,” stressing that the event’s impact will go way beyond just the “three days” of the race.
The Algarve’s hospitality industry also reacted positively. Hélder Martins, president of the region’s main hotel association (AHETA), said the event represents “a possibility of healthy business” and unparalleled international promotion. He recalled that when the race was last held, “for many high-end hotels, that week was the best ever.”
Miguel Praia, commercial director of the Algarve International Circuit, was more reserved. Contacted by Lusa news agency, he said that “for the moment, it is not possible to add more information to the Prime Minister’s statement.” He added, however, that the circuit has always “kept the channel open with Formula 1,” a policy initiated by the late Paulo Pinheiro, the track’s founder.
But while local leaders celebrate, analysts warn that securing a slot on Formula 1’s crowded calendar will not be straightforward. According to Rádio Renascença, the F1 championship already features 24 races per season – the maximum many teams are willing to tolerate – and competition among aspiring hosts is intense. South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and several other countries are also lobbying for a place, RR reports.
One possible solution is race rotation. With contracts such as Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps already structured to alternate, Portugal’s best chance may be to share a spot from 2028 onwards, depending on what happens with Barcelona and the new Madrid street race.
The financial burden of bringing such a high-profile event to Portugal poses another challenge. Former Portimão mayor Isilda Gomes in the past mentioned a hosting fee of around €25 million, in line with what is usually paid by other European countries. However, proponents argue that the return in global visibility and tourism revenue far outweighs the investment.
RR has also listed the pros and cons of the Algarve racetrack, taking into account its two previous spells as a F1 host in 2020 and 2021. On the positive side, the Portimão circuit has earned rave reviews from drivers for its rollercoaster-like elevation changes and technical corners. “The track is incredible. It took a few laps to get into rhythm because so many corners are blind, but once you do, it’s really enjoyable,” said Charles Leclerc in 2020. Pierre Gasly added that in the opening laps he felt “like being on a roller coaster.”
“It’s very challenging – lots of blind corners, high-speed, low-speed, braking combined with cornering – so it’s quite unusual,” the Frenchman explained.
Lewis Hamilton, then a six-time world champion with Mercedes, was equally enthusiastic. “Coming out of Turn 8, you’re looking at the sky for a while and have no idea what’s beyond the crest. At Turn 11, you don’t know where you are and suddenly, you’re in the corner,” he described.
However, the racetrack’s readiness to host such a large global event remains one of the biggest concerns. Past editions exposed issues with insufficient access roads, parking and spectator facilities. Whether these issues will be dealt with remains to be seen, as the Algarve awaits for official confirmation from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) – which organises the F1 World Championship – that the championship will indeed return to the Algarve in 2027.
