2023 is set to be another blockbuster year in Formula 1. Twenty-four rounds mean it’s the longest F1 race calendar ever.
The season starts just 800 km from where it ends. But Formula 1 travels the world between round 1 and round 24. There are six sprint races on the 2023 calendar. However, the dates of all six races have yet to be announced.
Set your calendars for the 5th of March 2023 for the start of a new race season. Let’s take a closer look at each destination on the calendar.
Round 1 – Bahrain (Sakhir) – 5th March
As it has been for the past two seasons, the 2023 F1 roller coaster starts in the Bahrain desert.
Bahrain International Circuit is a 3.3-mile circuit consisting of 15 corners. Pedro De La Rosa holds the lap record of 1:31.447 in the 2005 McLaren.
Expect another enthralling race as all ten teams show their Winter’s work on the Bahrain asphalt.
Will Red Bull continue to dominate? Will Ferrari fix their strategy problems? Will Mercedes produce a winning car again? Questions to be answered on the 5th of March.
Round 2 – Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) – 19th March
Next, the F1 circus makes the 1,400km journey to the coast of the Red Sea, Jeddah.
The technical, winding circuit amongst the Jeddah streets provides an excellent test for all drivers. It’s only been on the F1 calendar for two years, but it has provided some memorable moments.
2021 saw Lewis Hamilton set the lap record of 1:30.734 and an intense battle between himself and Max Verstappen. In addition, qualifying around the 3.8 miles of Jeddah Street Circuit is one of the most entertaining on the calendar.
Watch as all 20 drivers put their cars to the limits through all 27 corners under the lights.
Round 3 – Australia (Melbourne) – 2nd April
From Asia to Oceania. Australia hosts the only race in Oceania at the 3.2-mile Albert Park.
The track returned to the calendar in 2022 after a 3-year absence and a new track layout. Charles Leclerc holds the lap record of 1:20.260. Albert Park has never been so quick with the new layout designed for better racing.
Round 4 – China (Shanghai) – 16th April
The much-loved Chinese Grand Prix returns in 2023 after a 3-year absence. Michael Schumacher still holds the lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit. Will his time of 1:32.238 be beaten by a new age of Formula One car 19 years later?
It’s also Zhou Guanyu’s first opportunity of a home race in F1!
Round 5 – Azerbaijan (Baku) – 30th April
Earlier in the calendar than usual, F1 will arrive in Azerbaijan for round 5 of the championship. The Baku City Circuit is sandwiched between an Asian race (China) and a North American race (Miami). A bizarre decision logistically, but all 20 corners in Baku never fail to disappoint.
Oracle Red Bull Racing have won the last 2 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen won in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Round 6 – Miami – 7th May
Another strange decision on the F1 calendar. Round 6 is the first of four races in North America. The Miami International Autodrome made its first appearance in F1 in 2022 when Max Verstappen finished the weekend with both the lap record (1:31.361) and the race win.
Round 7 – Italy (Imola) – 21st May
F1 next goes back to Europe for the legendary Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola). Imola has a rich history in F1 but only returned as a replacement in the turbulent 2020 season. It looks like the fan-favourite track will be a mainstay on the F1 calendar for the foreseeable future.
Expect to see more entertaining wet-to-dry races in 2023.
Round 8 – Monaco – 28th May
We’ll see Monaco on the F1 calendar until at least 2025. The FIA signed the contract for this even after a lot of controversy about the legendary track.
The Circuit de Monaco is like royalty on the F1 calendar. 2.07 miles and 19 corners around the streets of Monaco prove to be the harshest of challenges for drivers every year.
Round 9 – Spain (Barcelona) – 4th June
Yes, Spain is still on the F1 calendar. 2-time World Champion Max Verstappen broke the record for youngest-ever race-winner in 2016 (18 years and 228 days). It was also his first time racing the Red Bull after the two Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton crashed into each other on lap 1.
Round 10 – Canada (Montreal)- 18th June
Canada has produced some of the best races in F1. Jenson Button’s unbelievable win in 2011, just to name one. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is only 2.71 miles, but drivers must be inch-perfect every lap to nail the circuit.
Round 11 – Austria (Spielberg) – 2nd July
The Red Bull Ring returned to the F1 calendar in 2014 after an 11-year absence. Red Bull have dominated their home race in the new era of Formula 1, with Max Verstappen equalling Alain Prost and Jo Siffert for most race wins (3).
With just ten corners in 2.68 miles, the Austrian Grand Prix produces the shortest lap times. Carlos Sainz holds the lap record of 1:05.619 in his 2020 McLaren.
Round 12 – UK (Silverstone) – 9th July
It wouldn’t be an F1 season without the British Grand Prix. 2023 marks 73 years of Grand Prix racing at Silverstone.
The track has changed throughout the years. But all 18 turns are watched eagerly by hundreds of thousands of people in attendance (and millions at home) every year.
Round 13 – Hungary (Budapest)- 23rd July
“Monaco without walls”, or the Hungaroring comes next. All 14 corners are technical, meaning drivers need to be precise with every turn of the wheel and push of the pedal. Lewis Hamilton did just that as he set the lap record in 2020 with a time of 1:16.627.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is a must-see every year in F1!
Round 14 – Belgium (Spa) – 30th July
The Belgium Grand Prix is the final race before the summer break in 2023. The longest circuit on the F1 calendar is at 4.35 miles.
Spa provides us with a fantastic race every year (apart from 2021). Watching F1 cars flat out through Eau Rouge never gets old.
F1 Summer Break
The F1 2023 race calendar takes a break to allow all F1 teams to enjoy four weeks of holiday. During this time, the teams must take a shutdown period of fourteen consecutive days.
During which they cannot work on the car design, develop new parts or hold meetings to discuss development. This is in accordance with Article 21.8 of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations.
Round 15 – Netherlands (Zandvoort) – 27th August
The first race after summer break is the home race of Max Verstappen and Alpha Tauri rookie Nyck De Vries at Zandvoort.
The signature banking of turns 3 and 14 offers unique racing lines to look out for. Verstappen has claimed victory in both races since Zandzoort’s return to the F1 calendar in 2021.
Round 16 – Italy (Monza) – 3rd September
From Holland to Italy. Round 16 is at the temple of speed. Rubèns Barrichello still holds the lap record at Monza of 1:21.046 in the legendary 2004 Ferrari.
There’s always a story with a Monza race weekend. 2020 was Pierre Gasly’s first win in Formula 1. 2021 was McLaren’s first win since 2012 (won by Daniel Ricciardo). And the 2022 race ended under a controversial safety car.
Round 17 – Singapore – 17th September
We’ll see a slightly new layout at Marina Bay in 2023. The old turns 16 to 19 have been cut out, meaning we will see a new lap record in 2023.
Kevin Magnussen currently holds the lap record around Marina Bay Street Circuit when he posted a 1:41.905 in his 2018 Haas.
Round 18 – Japan (Suzuka) – 24th September
Suzuka is one of the most-loved tracks on the F1 calendar by drivers and fans alike. 2022 saw an unusual (but entertaining) race which only lasted 45 minutes. Max Verstappen sealed his 2nd World Championship after a series of red flags, torrential rain, tractors on track, and a lot of waiting.
Round 19 – Qatar (Losail) – 8th October
The 3.34 miles of Losail international circuit makes its second appearance on the F1 calendar in 2023. Its first was announced midway through the 2021 season. Similar to the layout of Bahrain, the Qatar Grand Prix combines fast and slow corners and intense heat for the drivers.
Round 20 – USA (Austin) – 22nd October
Round 20 of the 2023 F1 season is the second race in the USA. COTA opened in 2012 and took inspiration from great tracks around the world to provide the best racing possible.
Legal or not, Charles Leclerc holds the lap record of 1:36.169 in 2019.
Round 21 – Mexico (Mexico City) – 29th October
Although Mexico isn’t the most entertaining of tracks on the F1 calendar, the fans bring the weekend to life. At just 2.67 miles, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is one of the shortest tracks on the calendar.
Expect lunging overtakes into the hard braking zone of turn 1 and maybe even turn 6 if your name is Daniel Ricciardo.
Round 22 – Brazil (San Paulo) – 5th November
As Lewis Hamilton is now a citizen of Brazil, this is technically his home race. He certainly loves this track, winning his first title here in 2008 and an astonishing last-to-first race in 2021. The Brazil GP is always one of the most entertaining on the F1 calendar, and it won’t disappoint in 2023.
Round 23 – Las Vegas – 18th November
Perhaps the most controversial race on the calendar, the penultimate race of the 2023 season is in Las Vegas. This will be the first-ever F1 race taking place on a Saturday.
Seventeen turns and 3.8 miles around the public streets of Las Vegas will be new for everyone in 2023.
Round 24 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) – 26th November
By the 24th round, we can only hope that neither world championship has already been decided.
Abu Dhabi has been the “curtain closer” of every F1 season since 2010. It’s provided some memorable moments almost every year. Championships have been won, and It’s been the final race for some F1 legends.
The new layout introduced in 2021 is in improvement, but we’ll wait to see how much better the racing is in 2023.
2023 Conclusion
With 24 races to squeeze into one year, it’s going to be a busy time for drivers, teams and spectators alike.
2023 also brings the first Saturday race day at the sin city of Las Vegas. Will it set pulses racing or will the wheels fall off? – it certainly will be a gamble!
F1 2023 Race Calendar
| Round | Grand Prix | Race Track | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahrain GP | Sakhir | 03-05 March 2023 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia GP | Jeddah | 17-19 March 2023 |
| 3 | Australia GP | Melbourne | 31 March – 02 April 2023 |
| 4 | China GP | Shanghai | 14-16 April 2023 |
| 5 | Azerbaijan GP | Baku | 28-30 April 2023 |
| 6 | Miami GP | Miami | 05-07 May 2023 |
| 7 | Emilia Romagna GP | Imola | 19-21 May 2023 |
| 8 | Monaco GP | Monaco | 26-28 May 2023 |
| 9 | Spain GP | Barcelona | 02-04 June 2023 |
| 10 | Canada GP | Montreal | 16-18 June 2023 |
| 11 | Austria GP | Spielberg | 30 June – 02 July 2023 |
| 12 | British GP | Silverstone | 07-09 July 2023 |
| 13 | Hungary GP | Budapest | 21-23 July 2023 |
| 14 | Belgium GP | Spa-Francorchamps | 28-30 July 2023 |
| 15 | Netherlands GP | Zandvoort | 25-27 August 2023 |
| 16 | Italy GP | Monza | 01-03 September 2023 |
| 17 | Singapore GP | Singapore | 15-17 September 2023 |
| 18 | Japan GP | Suzuka | 22-24 September 2023 |
| 19 | Qatar GP | Losail | 06-08 October 2023 |
| 20 | USA GP | Austin | 20-22 October 2023 |
| 21 | Mexico GP | Mexico City | 27-29 October 2023 |
| 22 | Brazil GP | Sao Paulo | 03-05 November 2023 |
| 23 | Las Vegas GP | Las Vegas | 16-18 November 2023 |
| 24 | Abu Dhabi GP | Yas Marina | 24-26 November 2023 |
