F1 hits the limit with record 24-race calendar unveiled for 2023 season

Formula One’s calendar for 2023 has been announced with a record number of 24 races, the maximum allowed under the current commercial agreement with the teams. The schedule was approved by a meeting of the FIA’s world motor sport council on Tuesday.

This year F1 is to host 22 races but with new meetings being added as the sport enjoys a surge in popularity across the world, it will attempt to hold the most extensive season in the sport’s history in 2023.

The number of races will push F1 team personnel to the limit. July alone will feature four races across two double headers, with four further pairs of back-to-back races to come in its wake.

In August the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, described 24 races as “right on the limit” of what could be asked of teams. The F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, also said this year he believed the number was as high as the sport should go.

“Around 24 grands prix, 23, 24 maximum,” he said. “I don’t want to discuss any more than that number because then we have the problem of devaluation of [events].”

The season will open in Bahrain on 5 March and will conclude in Abu Dhabi on 26 November, while the British GP will be held on 9 July. New meetings in Las Vegas and Qatar are confirmed as is the Monaco GP, whose future had been considered to be under threat, on 28 May as part of the only triple-header of the season after the Emilia Romagna GP and before the Spanish GP. F1 have also confirmed a new deal with Monaco to run until 2025.

5 March - Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir19 March - Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah2 April - Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park16 April - Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai30 April - Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku7 May - Miami Grand Prix, Miami21 May - Emilia Romagna