Luís Montenegro, the Prime Minister of Portugal, is eager to bring Formula 1 back to the Algarve. In a recent speech, he expressed his desire to have the Portimão circuit back on the calendar by 2027. According to Montenegro, the track meets all of the FIA’s stringent requirements; they are merely waiting for the official documentation. During the coronavirus pandemic, Portimão was the setting for the Portuguese GP twice.
During the Festa do Pontal in the Algarve, Montenegro revealed his intention to bring Formula 1 back to the region. “Major events contribute the most to promoting this area,” he stated. “We have already secured the MotoGP, the flagship of motorsport, for 2025 and 2026. And I can assure you that everything is ready to formalize the return of Formula 1 to the Algarve in 2027.”
Portuguese Grand Prix
“These events do require a financial effort from the government, but they generate a return through direct income and promotion that is absolutely worth it,” Montenegro added. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Formula 1 circus traveled twice to the Portimão circuit, which was completed in 2008. Lewis Hamilton, then driving for Mercedes, won both the 2020 and 2021 editions. Apart from these Grands Prix, Formula 1 has never raced in the Algarve before.
However, the Portuguese GP has a rich history. In the early years of Formula 1, races were held in Porto and Monsanto, but from 1984 onwards, the Estoril circuit held a prominent place on the calendar. Legendary drivers such as Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell managed to triumph there multiple times. The last race in Estoril was held in 1996.
