Formula 1 and the FIA have revealed the calendar for the 2023 F1 season – a record-breaking 24 races are set to feature over the year.
It will be the sport’s busiest season yet as the FIA approved a staggering 24-race calendar this afternoon. The calendar was put to a vote in front of the World Motor Sport Council members.
The year will kick off in Bahrain, with the first race scheduled for the 5th of March, which will be greeted by a two-week wait for the second round in Saudi Arabia.
Melbourne will make up the third round before we head to China for the long-awaited return of the Chinese Grand Prix after a three-year absence.
The first double header of the year will be the fifth and sixth rounds of the season, held in Azerbaijan and Miami before Imola returns to kick off the European Leg as the first of a triple-header with Monaco and Barcelona following after.
Of course, on the calendar is the controversial Las Vegas Grand Prix, which will be the second to last race of the season and the third race to be held in the US that year and will take place on a Saturday night.
The calendar revealed a few surprises, there is no feature of the much-rumoured South African Grand Prix, but does confirm the return of Qatar after hosting its inaugural race in 2021. Maybe not so much of a surprise for F1 fans, the French Grand Prix will not be on the calendar next year after Stefano Domenicali confirmed the race will be dropped back in August. However, the organisers are keen to hold the race of a rotation system in the future.
“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,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem of the announcement.