Beginner · 3 min read

How many kilometres and laps is an F1 race?

Q: What is the approximate minimum distance of a Grand Prix?

305 km. About 305 km, rounded to full laps.

Q: Why does Monaco run fewer kilometres?

Because 305 km would exceed the time limit. Its track is very short and would not fit in two hours.

Why a Grand Prix is about 305 km, why Monaco is shorter and what happens with the two-hour limit.

In 30 seconds

A Grand Prix is set at 305 km or slightly more: the number of full laps needed to exceed that distance is calculated.
Monaco is the exception, at 260 km.
A race lasts up to about two hours; with red flags there is a larger total limit.

Step by step

305 km
The minimum distance of a Grand Prix is around 305 km. It is divided by the circuit length and rounded up to full laps, which is why each track has a different number of laps.
The Monaco exception
Its layout is very short (3.337 km) and reaching 305 km would exceed the time limit, so it is run over 260 km (78 laps).
The two-hour limit
The race is stopped when the maximum time runs out, which on a normal weekend is around two hours, although sources differ on how the final lap is applied: check the FIA sporting regulations.
Red flags
With a suspended race, a larger total limit from the original start comes into play (three hours according to some sources).

See it in the data

Where to see it on Formuradar

Calendar and schedule →Circuits →

Test yourself

Did you get it?

Question 1 of 2What is the approximate minimum distance of a Grand Prix?

Question 2 of 2Why does Monaco run fewer kilometres?

Glossary for this page

Sprint: A short race of about 100 km (around 30 minutes) held at some weekends, with no compulsory pit stop and points for the top eight.
Red flag: The session is stopped; cars return to the pits.

See the full glossary →

Sources

A Grand Prix covers at least 305 km, with Monaco as the exception (260 km, 78 laps); the laps are derived from the distance and not the other way round. Formula One History · How long is an F1 race? Distance, laps and time limits
The Grand Prix lasts up to about two hours, according to F1's guide to the weekend. Formula1.com · The beginner's guide to the F1 weekend

Sources checked on 20 October 2026. Valid for: check the FIA sporting regulations for the exact limit. The explanations are popular-level: for the exact rules, check the FIA sporting regulations.