The 2023 Formula 1 season will be a record-breaking one with 24 races planned for the first time in a calendar year.
One of the main highlights is confirmation of a return to China after being absent from the race calendar since 2019. It will be the first time the F1 circus has stopped off on the outskirts of Shanghai since before the Covid pandemic began.
Another addition compared to this season will be a third trip to the USA, with the date for the Las Vegas Grand Prix now confirmed for November 18. It will be the penultimate race of the year, before the traditional season-closer in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, the Qatar Grand Prix will return after a year away.
Despite concerns over their long term future, there are places on the calendar for races in Monaco and Belgium, though the French Grand Prix has been dropped for at least one season. As expected, 2023 comes too soon for a trip to South Africa to be added to the itinerary for the first time in three decades.
"The presence of 24 races on the 2023 FIA Formula 1 world championship calendar is further evidence of the growth and appeal of the sport on a global scale." said FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem. "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."
The season starts on the first weekend in March with the Bahrain Grand Prix. F1 will remain in Asia and Oceania for the first few race weekends, with races in Saudi Arabia, Australia, China and Azerbaijan to follow.
Though there were reports the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix would be brought closer together for logistical purposes, but it appears that idea was scrapped as F1 will travel to Italy, Monaco and Spain between visits to Florida and Montreal.
Austria will be followed by the British Grand Prix on July 9, before trips to Hungary and Belgium to round off the first part of the season. After the summer break, the Netherlands and Italy will round off the European leg of the season, and will be followed by a double-header in Singapore and Japan.
Qatar will host the first race in October and after that, other than that trip to Las Vegas, the run-in feels familiar with mainstays like the USGP in Texas, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi all still part of the annual calendar.
There was some confusion, though, about the date of the Belgian Grand Prix. Instead of its usual slot as the first race back after the mid-season break, the trip to Spa now takes place on the weekend of July 28-30 – but that is also the date for which the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is scheduled.
A spokesperson for Formula 1 confirmed to Mirror Sport that F1 will race at Spa on that date, though they could not comment on the timing of the endurance race. The organisers of the 24hrs later confirmed it has been brought forward by four weeks in response, and will not take place on the first weekend in July. The FIA has been approached for comment.
