by Formula 1 has a four-week gap in this season’s calendar after the sport’s bosses confirmed that the Chinese grand prix will not be replaced.
The race in Shanghai, which was scheduled to take place on April 16, was canceled last month due to the country’s ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
Despite Chinese officials subsequently moving away from their zero-Covid policy, the round could not be saved, marking the fourth season it has been dropped from the race schedule.
F1 managers were assessing a number of options to fill the vacant slot, with Algarve’s Portimao the main contender.
But the sport’s leaders decided to avoid the logistical headache of diverting to Portugal after the third round of the season in Melbourne, Australia on April 2, and then to Azerbaijan.
F1 is believed to have explored the possibility of moving the Baku race forward a week, but it was confirmed on Tuesday that the April 30 race will not be rescheduled.
The season starts on March 5 in Bahrain and ends on November 26 in Abu Dhabi and features a record 23 rounds, one more than last year.
F1 said in a statement: “Formula 1 can confirm that the 2023 season will consist of 23 races. All existing race dates on the calendar remain unchanged.”
The 10 teams on the grid will unveil their new machines next month ahead of the sport’s only pre-season test taking place over three days in Bahrain, starting on February 23.
Read below for more information about the 2023 season
When do pre-season tests take place?
Unlike last year, there will be only one pre-season test for the 2023 season. It will run from Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25 at the Bahrain International Circuit, just outside Sakhir.
Will the test be on TV?
We don’t have confirmation yet that this is the case. After a few years of test broadcasting on F1TV and Sky Sports, last year’s first test in Spain (which was officially not a test in name, but a pre-season “shakedown”) was not broadcast, but the second test in Bahrain well.
Since there is only one test, it seems likely that a week before the race the test will be televised in some form, but that is not guaranteed.
What are the car launch dates in 2023?
Red Bull, RB19: February 3 New York
williams: February 6 online
AlphaTauri AT04: February 11 New York
Aston Martin AMR23: February 13, Silverstone
Ferrari: February 14th
Mercedes W14: February 15, Silverstone
Alpine A523: February 16, London
Alfa Romeo: February 7
Hare: Livery launch on January 31
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 to Sunday 5 March.
Where and when are the six speed races this year?
Formula 1 has announced the six sprint locations for 2023. Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Austin race in the United States and Qatar all join Austria and Brazil in qualifying on Friday and a shortened ‘sprint’ race on Saturday.
Three sprint races were held in 2022 – in Imola, Austria and Brazil – with much discussion early in the season about extending that offering for next year.
The teams and F1 were keen to double the numbers, arguing that sprint races have been successful in attracting fans and increasing audiences. But the FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, initially resisted, claiming it would cost them more and asking for compensation.
Just like last year, points will also be awarded to the eight best drivers in the sprint race. Again, the sprint races will be around 100km – or about a third of a Grand Prix distance – and will be run on Saturday, with the traditional three-part qualifying setting the grid for the sprint taking place on Friday.
The driver who tops qualifying on Friday when these sprint races take place will be awarded the official pole position, not the sprint winner, as was the case in 2021.
What are the driver line-ups?
Red Bull: Max Verstappen (33) and Sergio Pérez (11)
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (44) and George Russell (63)
Ferrari: Carlos Sainz (55) and Charles Leclerc (55)
Alps: 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)
Hare: Kevin Magnussen (20) and Nico Hulkenberg (27)
AlphaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda (22) and Nyck de Vries (subject to change)
williams: Alexander Albon (23) and Logan Sargeant (2)
What is the full calendar?
March
5: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
April
2: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
30: Grand Prix of Azerbaijan, Baku +
Ability
5-7: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
19-21: Grand Prix Emilia Romagna, Imola
26-28: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
June-
June 2-4: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
June 16-18: 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: Grand Prix of the Netherlands, Zandvoort
September
September 1-3: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
September 15-17: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
September 22-24: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
October
October 6-8: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail+
October 20-22: United States Grand Prix, Austin +
October 27-29: Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico City
November
November 3-5: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Sao Paulo +
November 16-18: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
November 24-26: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
+ Indicates the weekend of the sprint event
How to watch the season
As has been the case for some time, Sky Sports F1 in the UK has virtually exclusive coverage rights for the season. They will show all practices, qualifying sessions, sprint qualifying and races throughout the season.
Channel 4 has extensive qualifying and race highlights again, with the British Grand Prix broadcast live in July.
If you’re outside the UK, you may also be able to subscribe to F1’s own F1TV for a monthly fee during the season.
