Formula 1 unveils 24-race 2023 season calendar

Formula 1’s 2023 season has been unveiled, with a record-breaking 24 races set to be contested next year.

After two seasons of attempting 23 races, a tally that would have initially been the highest on an F1 calendar, the championship has increased this number to 24.

The World Motor Sport Council approved the 2023 calendar on 20 September, as FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem discussed his thoughts on the benefit of a longer calendar.

He said:

“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.

“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.”

The FIA President also confirmed that other events were considered when piecing together the schedule, adding:

“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, in similar fashion to the past two seasons, will start and end in the Middle East, with Bahrain kicking-off the season while Abu Dhabi will host the season finale.

China returns following three absent years, slotting between Australia and Azerbaijan, with the Baku City Circuit returning to an earlier slot in the schedule.

Following a second trip to Miami, the European stint will run its usual course until Belgium, now set to be run before the summer break instead of its normal slot at the end of August.

The Belgian Grand Prix was confirmed to be returning for 2023 ahead of the race this season, but was only handed a one-year extension as other circuits like South Africa remain targets for the 2024 season.

As well as this, following a difficult return to the sport in 2018, France has been dropped from F1’s line-up following a series of less exciting Grands Prix.

Instead, F1 will return from its four-week summer holiday to restart in the Netherlands before a trio of triple-headers will finish off the year.

Italy, Singapore and Japan follow Max Verstappen’s home race, while Qatar begins its long-term stay on the F1 calendar ahead of the United States and Mexico.

Finally, Brazil now acts as the opener to the final triple-header, while the Las Vegas Grand Prix will act as the penultimate round on Saturday 18 November.

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