The early release of the 2027 Formula 1 schedule shows no conflicts with the premier European 24-hour endurance events, creating an opportunity for Lando Norris to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with McLaren.
The current F1 titleholder carried out a run at Portimão in McLaren’s latest MCL-HY Hypercar project on Monday, after already piloting the machine during July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Sportscar365 has learned that McLaren has strategically left two of its six FIA World Endurance Championship seats unfilled for its inaugural season to assess several possibilities, including the potential for Norris and IndyCar icon Scott Dixon to compete at Le Mans if their calendars permit.
The 2027 F1 schedule has been released and there is no overlap with the June 9-13 window for Le Mans.
The Le Mans race near La Sarthe has run alongside F1 events in each of the last two years, yet in both recent instances where a current F1 driver competed, they emerged victorious: Fernando Alonso in a Toyota TS050 Hybrid in 2018 and Nico Hülkenberg piloting a Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015.
Similarly, no F1 rounds are scheduled for the Nürburgring 24 (May 27-30) or the Spa 24 Hours (June 24-27) weekends next year, which could allow four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen to pursue additional GT3 outings.
This year he starred at the Nürburgring 24 Hours behind the wheel of a Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, and Spa 24H organizer SRO Motorsports Group had earlier indicated it would be willing to shift the Belgian endurance classic’s date if necessary to dodge an F1 clash.
Nevertheless, the 2027 F1 timetable currently includes four races in the Middle East, starting with events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and could be altered if the ongoing regional conflict persists.
