2023 F1 Season: Dates, Schedule & Where To Watch
F1 pre-season testing officially kickstarts on Thursday for three days, giving the teams some limited time before the first race of the season in Bahrain.
The conclusion of pre-season testing in Bahrain this week marks the return of vehicles to the track after a protracted winter hiatus in Formula 1.
The sessions will take place over the course of three days, from Thursday, February 23, to Saturday, February 25, and involve all ten teams running their vehicles.
Seek out all the information you want for F1 this season.
BREAKING: Lance Stroll to miss pre-season testing in Bahrain after training accident#F1 pic.twitter.com/UDDBkdKELW
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 20, 2023
When does pre-season testing take place?
Unlike last year, there is only one pre-season test before the 2023 season. That runs from Thursday, February 23 until Saturday, February 25 at the Bahrain International Circuit, just outside of Sakhir.
Will the test be on TV?
Yes, in the UK, Sky Sports F1 will broadcast every minute of action across the three days of the first test in Bahrain. F1’s own F1TV will also be likely to broadcast every session of the three-day test.
When is the first race of 2023?
The first grand prix of the 2023 season is also at the Bahrain International Circuit, running from Friday 3 until Sunday 5 March.
Our schedule for pre-season testing in Bahrain next week is confirmed 🇧🇭#HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/G6sXftQapW
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 17, 2023
What is the full calendar?
March
5: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
April
2: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
30: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku +
May
7: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
21: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola
28: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
June
4: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
18: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
July
2: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg +
9: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
23: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
30: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps +
August
27: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
September
3: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
17: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
24: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
October
8: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail +
22: United States Grand Prix, Austin +
29: Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico City
November
5: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Sao Paulo +
18: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
26: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
🗓 Pre-season testing starts in 10 days!
Hands up who can't wait to see all the 2023 cars on track 🙌#F1 pic.twitter.com/osT32L4A4W
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 13, 2023
How to watch the season
In the UK, Sky Sports F1 has had nearly exclusive coverage rights for the season as has been the case for some years. Throughout the season, they will broadcast every practice, qualifying, sprint qualifying, and race.
Channel 4 will once more show live coverage of the British Grand Prix in July along with extended highlights of qualifying and races.
For a monthly charge during the season, those who reside outside of the UK may also be able to subscribe to F1’s own F1TV.
As we wait for pre-season testing to begin on Thursday, here's a wave from Charles Leclerc during his first run in the Ferrari SF-23… #F1pic.twitter.com/Uqkj3cJ3gO
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) February 20, 2023
Where and when will the six sprint races happen this year?
The six sprint locations for 2023 have been revealed by Formula One. Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Austin event in the United States, and Qatar will all host qualifying on Friday and a condensed “sprint” race on Saturday, joining Austria and Brazil.
There was substantial speculation in the early part of the season about raising the number of sprint races for the next year, but in 2022 just three were held—in Imola, Austria, and Brazil.
The teams and F1 wanted to increase the number by two, claiming that sprint races had been effective in attracting viewers and growing audience levels. The regulatory body for motorsports, the FIA, first refused, saying that it would be more expensive and requesting compensation.
#F1 cars are back on track this week! 🙌
Pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain from 23 Feb 🏎️ pic.twitter.com/9u5U4DsSdt
— F1 Australian Grand Prix (@ausgrandprix) February 19, 2023
Like last year, too, points will be granted to the top eight drivers in the sprint race. Again, the sprint races will be around 100km – or roughly a third of a grand prix distance – and will run on Saturday, with the regular three-part qualifying determining the grid for the sprint and taking place on the Friday.
The driver who tops qualifying on Friday, when these sprint races will occur, will be granted the official pole position, not the winner of the sprint, as was the case in 2021.
What are the driver line-ups?
Red Bull
Max Verstappen (1) and Sergio Pérez (11)
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (44) and George Russell (63)
Ferrari
Carlos Sainz (55) and Charles Leclerc (55)
Alpine
Esteban Ocon (31) and Pierre Gasly (10)
McLaren
Lando Norris (4) and Oscar Piastri (81)
Alfa Romeo
Valtteri Bottas (77) and Guanyu Zhou (24)
Aston Martin
Lance Stroll (18) and Fernando Alonso (14)
Haas
Kevin Magnussen (20) and Nico Hulkenberg (27)
AlphaTauri
Yuki Tsunoda (22) and Nyck de Vries (21)
Williams
Alexander Albon (23) and Logan Sargeant (2)
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