2023 F1 calendar

What F1 races have contracts for 2023?

Unlike the past two seasons, where a significant number of circuits were late in agreeing longer-term deals, the majority of the new season’s F1 calendar is already decided. Grands Prix that are guaranteed to return in 2023 are: Abu Dhabi, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Emilia Romagna (Imola), Hungary, Italy (Monza), Japan, Miami, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Singapore, Spain and the US (COTA).

These will be joined by a new race in Las Vegas, as announced recently, and returns to China – missing since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic – and Qatar.

Which current F1 races might miss out?

Five current F1 races do not have a contract in place beyond the end of this season: Austria, Belgium, France, Mexico and Monaco.

Is there any hope for any of those races?

Austria certainly has hope, given the circuit is owned by Red Bull and the race is bankrolled by the company and its owner Dieter Mateschitz. Mexico City has also been a huge success, fulfilling F1 owner Liberty Media’s wish for races with a bit more razzmatazz. The growing success of Checo Perez can only help its cause, and if Pato O’Ward makes it to F1 that could seal the deal.

But there is significant trouble for the other circuits on this list. Spa has been undergoing significant revisions with motorbike racing and safety in mind, but the failure of the 2021 race will have put some doubts in the minds of organisers. That said, it is probably France and Monaco that are in most danger. Monaco pays no money to host its race thanks to its historic nature, and various issues have come up between the ACM – which runs the event – and Liberty over the last few years. France’s position is perilous too, given a lack of cash from the organisers, but also various organisational issues at the Paul Ricard circuit over the last few years.

With F1 looking seriously at new avenues, including how to race in Africa, and with a confirmed calendar of 20 races already in place, the French Grand Prix’s future looks in peril. Talks have already begun over a new deal for Monaco, and while it’s never been in danger like this, there is perhaps more hope for a 2023 Monaco Grand Prix than the French, if the ACM are willing to budge on a few issues.

What are the new races on the calendar in 2023?

Just the one, a trip to Las Vegas. A few years ago even having one F1 race in the USA seemed like a long shot, but from next year there will be three, making it four on the North American continent. The race will be different from others, not just because it slices through the centre of the Las Vegas strip and all its bright lights, but because it will happen on a Saturday and be timed to coincide with prime time on US TV.

What will change in the 2023 F1 calendar?

Other than the new races, there has been a significant amount of chatter about re-organising the calendar to make it easier for teams. The 2022 calendar includes multiple trips out of Europe for a single race, forcing teams to transport cars, spares and personnel across the world in short notice.

As F1 pushes to a larger calendar, and with its sustainability ever more important, F1 chiefs are looking at ways to make the calendar both easier to manage and easier on the environment.

The result is we can expect to see more groupings of races in individual continents, similar to the traditional “European season” that takes place over the summer. This could include measures like Miami and Canada taking place closer to each other, middle-eastern rounds scheduled together, and the races in eastern Asia being grouped.

Will any races change venue?

It doesn’t look like any of the existing venues will change for 2023, but several are set to change beyond that. Qatar’s only round to date took place at the Losail International Circuit, but its agreement on signing a long-term contract to host a race involved moving to a different track, purpose built for Formula 1.

Saudi Arabia, too, has plans to move away from its current home. The Jeddah Corniche circuit has been praised and criticised in equal measure, but the long-term plan has always been to move away from the tight street circuit long term. The organisers plan to move to a purpose-built track in Qiddiya, a new entertainment centre around 40km outside the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The original plan was for this move to happen after three seasons at Jeddah, making 2023 the final edition, but it now seems that stay will be five years ­– meaning three more seasons at Jeddah.

2023 F1 calendar

So what else will change for 2023? Well several things must. For one, we have to learn the fate of our existing five races without contracts. Currently 24 is the maximum number of races F1 is allowed to hold due to is concorde agreement with the teams. This season was due to be the first one ever with 23 races – until the Russian Grand Prix was first cancelled and then had its entire contract ripped up – so we imagine 23 will be the aim again, meaning two current races may miss out, or a contracted race could drop off.

We don’t know what the answers to any of those conundrums will be, but we’ll keep you updated on the 2023 F1 calendar and the news around it right here.  

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.