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F1 2023 season: Race calendar in full and how to watch as car launch dates announced

George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W13 leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil - Chris Graythen/Getty Images
George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W13 leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 12, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Formula One will have a four-week hole in this season's calendar after the sport's bosses confirmed the Chinese Grand Prix would not be replaced.

The race in Shanghai – which had been due to take place on April 16 – was cancelled last month amid ongoing coronavirus restrictions in the country.

Despite Chinese officials subsequently moving away from their zero-Covid policy, the round could not be salvaged, marking the fourth season it has been scrubbed from the racing schedule.

F1 executives assessed a number of options to fill the vacant slot, with Portimao in the Algarve understood to be the main contender.

But the sport's chiefs decided against the logistical headache of diverting to Portugal following the third round of the season in Melbourne, Australia on April 2, and then on to Azerbaijan.

It is believed F1 explored the opportunity of bringing the race in Baku forward by a week, but it was confirmed on Tuesday that the fixture on April 30 will not be moved.

The season begins in Bahrain on March 5, concluding in Abu Dhabi on November 26 and features a record 23 rounds, one more than last year.

F1 said in a statement: "Formula One can confirm the 2023 season will consist of 23 races. All existing race dates on the calendar remain unchanged."

The grid's 10 teams will unveil their new machines next month ahead of the sport's sole pre-season test which takes place over three days in Bahrain, starting on February 23.

Read below for more information on the 2023 season


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.

What are the 2023 car launch dates?

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 14
Mercedes W14: February 15, Silverstone
Alpine A523: February 16, London
Alfa Romeo: February 7
Haas: TBC

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.

Where and when will the six sprint races be this year?

Formula One has announced the six sprint venues for 2023 with Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Austin race in the United States and Qatar all joining Austria and Brazil in staging qualifying on Friday and a shortened ‘sprint' race on Saturday.

Three sprint races were held in 2022 – at Imola, Austria and Brazil – with much discussion in the early part of the season about expanding that offering for next year.

The teams and F1 were keen to double the number, arguing that sprint races have been successful in engaging fans and increasing audience sizes. But the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, initially resisted, claiming that it would cost them more and asking for compensation.

Like last year, too, points will be given to the top eight drivers in the sprint race. Again, the sprint races will be approximately 100km – or roughly a third of a grand prix distance – and will run on Saturday, with the traditional three-part qualifying setting the grid for the sprint and taking place on the Friday.

The driver who tops qualifying on Friday, when these sprint races take place, will be awarded 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 (33) 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 (TBA)
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: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku +

May

5-7: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
19-21: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, 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: Dutch Grand Prix, 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

+ Denotes sprint event weekend

How to watch the season

As has been the case for some time now, in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 have near exclusive coverage rights for the season. They will be showing all practice sessions, qualifying sessions, sprint qualifying and races throughout the season.

Channel 4 will have their extended qualifying and race highlights again, with the British Grand Prix in July broadcast live.

If you are outside of the UK you may also be able to subscribe to F1’s own F1TV for a monthly fee throughout the season.