F1 2023: Race calender in full and how to watch as six sprint race venues confirmed

Cadillac could be the next big name in Formula 1 with Andretti Global and General Motors announcing plans to enter a new team in the coming years under the latter’s famous brand.

The Andretti Cadillac team would be based in the United States, at Andretti’s new state-of-the-art headquarters which are being built in Fishers, Indiana. There is also a satellite facility planned for the UK.

In a press conference on Thursday, Michael Andretti, the son of former F1 world champion Mario Andretti and the chairman and chief executive of Andretti Global, promised the “all-American team” would be “on a level with any F1 team out there”.

That is if they are accepted. F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali sounded lukewarm on the prospect of an Andretti entry when it was first mooted last year, saying F1 did not need to expand from its current 10 teams.

In the last few weeks, however, Andretti have made increasingly confident noises. And the situation developed earlier this week when FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed that he had asked his team to look at starting the process for Expressions of Interest from potential new F1 teams, marking a first step to expanding the grid.

In his press conference on Thursday, Andretti called the Emirati former rally driver a “real racer with a true passion for the sport” and said he hoped Ben Sulayem’s support would help get the Andretti Cadillac entry over the line.

F1 warned, though, that nothing was set in stone and that there were other names also interested in joining. F1 also stressed that any new entry would be for 2026 at the earliest, and would require the approval of both the FIA and F1.

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. 

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 F1 2023 calendar?

March 3-5: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
March 17-19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
March 31-April 2: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne *
April 28-30: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku +
May 5-7: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
May 19-21: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola
May 26-28: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
June 2-4: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
June 16-18: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
June 30-July 2: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg +
July 7-9: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
July 21-23: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
July 28-30: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps +
August 25-27: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
September 1-3: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
September 15-17: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
September 22-24: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
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 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

*NB: The Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 16 was cancelled. It is expected to be replaced on that date, with Portugal leading the way. 

+ 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.