A typical Formula 1 race lasts about 90 minutes, though the official maximum time allowed is two hours of track time to complete the scheduled race distance. If the race reaches the two-hour mark, it finishes at the end of the current lap. In exceptional cases with delays such as red flags, the total event window can extend up to three hours to allow the full race distance to be completed
. Each F1 race is set to cover a minimum distance of approximately 305 kilometers (190 miles), except for the Monaco Grand Prix, which has a shorter distance of about 260 kilometers (160 miles) due to its slower and more technical street circuit
. The number of laps varies by circuit length to meet this distance requirement-for example, Monaco has 78 laps, while longer tracks like Spa- Francorchamps have fewer laps (44 laps)
. Factors such as safety car periods, weather conditions, or race stoppages can extend the race duration beyond the typical 90 minutes. The longest recorded F1 race was the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix, which lasted over four hours due to heavy rain and multiple interruptions
. In summary:
- Average race length: about 90 minutes
- Maximum track time: 2 hours (race ends at next lap after 2 hours)
- Total event window with stoppages: up to 3 hours
- Minimum race distance: 305 km (except Monaco at 260 km)
- Laps vary by circuit length to meet distance requirement
