The 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar has been approved by the World Motorsport Council. For the first time in history, F1 will feature 24 races, with China returning to the race calendar.
There will be a pre-season test in Bahrain on February 23-25 before the season begins on March 5.
China will return on April 16, but South Africa is not on the 2023 calendar and will instead compete for a spot in 2024.
Azerbaijan changes its date to April 30 in order to run back-to-back with Miami (May 7) and maintain the unpopular Baku/North America combination.
Then comes a European trip to Imola, Monza, and Spain, followed by a week off to avoid a clash with the Le Mans 24 Hours.
On June 18, Canada will be a stand-alone event before the first half of the season concludes with a pair of European doubleheaders: Austria/Britain and Hungary/Belgium.
Hungary has vacated its usual pre-summer break slot, allowing Spa to host the Belgian GP instead. Belgium was given a reprieve and was supposed to have a July 23 date, but that is no longer possible, thus the Hungary swap.
The European season concludes with back-to-back races at Zandvoort and Monza following the summer break. The French GP has dropped out completely, as expected.
Then comes an Asian doubleheader in Singapore and Japan, followed by a standalone race in Qatar, which kicks off a 10-year contract. Another triple-header is scheduled for the United States, Mexico, and Brazil.
The Formula One season concludes with the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, which will be held on a Saturday and will be co-located with the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
A statement from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem read: “The presence of 24 races on the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is further evidence of the growth and appeal of the sport on a global scale.”
“The addition of new venues and the retention of traditional events underlines the FIA’s sound stewardship of the sport. I am delighted that we will be able to take Formula 1’s new era of exciting racing, created by the FIA’s 2022 Regulations, to a broader fan base in 2023. In framing the 2023 F1 calendar, WMSC Members have also been mindful of the timing of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
