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The 2023 Formula One World Championship is GO!!
Calendar file
webcal://ics.ecal.com/ecal-sub/63fe4fce38e6c5000ef63d9f/Formula%201.ics
Teams and Drivers
Team
Constructor/chassis/power unit
Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari C43 Ferrari 066/10
24 China Zhou Guanyu
77 Finland Valtteri Bottas
Scuderia AlphaTauri
AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT AT04 Honda RBPTH001
21 Netherlands Nyck de Vries
22 Japan Yuki Tsunoda
BWT Alpine F1 Team
Alpine-Renault A523 Renault E-Tech RE23
10 France Pierre Gasly
31 France Esteban Ocon
Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team
Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes AMR23 Mercedes-AMG F1 M14
14 Spain Fernando Alonso
18 Canada Lance Stroll
Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari SF-23 Ferrari 066/10
16 Monaco Charles Leclerc
55 Spain Carlos Sainz Jr.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
Haas-Ferrari VF-23 Ferrari 066/10
20 Denmark Kevin Magnussen
27 Germany Nico Hülkenberg
McLaren F1 Team
McLaren-Mercedes MCL60 Mercedes-AMG F1 M14
4 United Kingdom Lando Norris
81 Australia Oscar Piastri
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Mercedes F1 W14 Mercedes-AMG F1 M14
44 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton
63 United Kingdom George Russell
Oracle Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT RB19Honda RBPTH001
1 Netherlands Max Verstappen
11 Mexico Sergio Pérez
Williams Racing
Williams-Mercedes FW45 Mercedes-AMG F1 M14
2 United States Logan Sargeant
23 Thailand Alexander Albon
Calendar Changes
- The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled to return to the calendar, after last being held in 2021. The Grand Prix, along with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, was initially planned to be moved to a new purpose-built circuit, before both being retained in Lusail and Jeddah, respectively.
- The Las Vegas Grand Prix is due to make its debut, with the race planned to be held in November on a new street track across the Las Vegas Strip. The last Grand Prix held in Las Vegas was the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. Three races will be held in the United States in the same season for the first time since 1982.
- The Russian Grand Prix was under contract to feature on the 2023 calendar. It was originally meant to switch its venue from the Sochi Autodrom to Igora Drive, in Novozhilovo, located about 54 kilometres (34 mi) from Saint Petersburg. However, the Grand Prix had its contract terminated in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- The French Grand Prix will not feature on the 2023 calendar although the promoters of the Grand Prix stated that they would aim for a rotational race deal by sharing its slot with other Grands Prix.
- The Chinese Grand Prix was initially due to be part of the calendar after last being held in 2019, but it was cancelled for the fourth consecutive year due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. It was not replaced.
2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar
1 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir 5 March
2 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Saudi Arabia Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah 19 March
3 Australian Grand Prix Australia Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne 2 April
4 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit, Baku 30 April
5 Miami Grand Prix United States Miami International Autodrome, Miami Gardens, Florida 7 May
6 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Italy Imola Circuit, Imola 21 May
7 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco Circuit de Monaco, Monaco 28 May
8 Spanish Grand Prix Spain Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló 4 June
9 Canadian Grand Prix Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal 18 June
10 Austrian Grand Prix Austria Red Bull Ring, Spielberg 2 July
11 British Grand Prix United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 9 July
12 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungary Hungaroring, Mogyoród 23 July
13 Belgian Grand Prix Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 30 July
14 Dutch Grand Prix Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort 27 August
15 Italian Grand Prix Italy Monza Circuit, Monza 3 September
16 Singapore Grand Prix Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore 17 September
17 Japanese Grand Prix Japan Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka 24 September
18 Qatar Grand Prix Qatar Lusail International Circuit, Lusail 8 October
19 United States Grand Prix United States Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas 22 October
20 Mexico City Grand Prix Mexico Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City 29 October
21 São Paulo Grand Prix Brazil Interlagos Circuit, São Paulo 5 November
22 Las Vegas Grand Prix United States Las Vegas Street Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada 18 November
23 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi 26 November
Team Changes
Honda returns as a named engine supplier to Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri, with both teams' engines badged as Honda RBPT. While Red Bull Powertrains had planned to take over assembly and maintenance of the engines from this championship onwards, it was later agreed that Honda would continue its technical support of Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri until the end of 2025.
Driver Changes
IN
Nyck de Vries - Alpha Tauri
Oscar Piastri - McLaren
Logan Sargeant - Williams
Nico Hülkenberg - Haas
MOVED
Fernando Alonso - Alpine to Aston Martin
Pierre Gasly - Alpha Tauri to Alpine
OUT
Sebastian Vettel - Aston Martin [retired]
Daniel Ricciardo - From McLaren to Red Bull reserve driver
Nicholas Latifi - Williams to ???
Mick Schumacher - Haas to Mercedes reserve driver
Technical Regulation Changes
Reducing porpoising
Following large amounts of porpoising during 2022, the FIA introduced changes to the regulations to limit excessive porpoising. Floor edges are raised by 15 millimetres (0.59 in) and the throat of the diffuser is raised by 10 millimetres (0.39 in). The diffuser edge stiffness is increased and an additional sensor will be mandated to monitor the porpoising phenomenon more effectively. Lateral floor deflection tests are also due to be more stringent.
Changes to roll hoop design regulations
Following Zhou Guanyu's crash at the 2022 British Grand Prix, a rounded top will now be required on the roll hoop, which will reduce the chance of it digging into the ground during an accident; a change will be made to ensure a minimum height for the point of application of the homologation test; there will be a new physical homologation test where the load pushes the roll hoop in the forward direction; there will be a definition of new tests, to be carried out by calculation.
Mirror size
The size of the side-mirrors will be increased from 150 mm × 50 mm (5.9 in × 2.0 in) to 200 mm × 60 mm (7.9 in × 2.4 in).
Weight and fuel temperature
The allowed weight of cars was set to be decreased from 798 kilograms (1,759 lb) to 796 kg (1,755 lb). However, this initially planned change was later abandoned mainly due to the introduction of heavier Pirelli tyres. The allowed weight of power units will be increased for 2023 from 150 kg (330 lb) to 151 kg (333 lb). The minimum fuel temperatures has been changed to 10 °C (50 °F), down from 20 °C (68 °F) in 2022, or 10 °C (18 °F) below ambient temperature when cars are operating outside designated garage areas.
Slot gap separators on front wing
The FIA initially altered the wording of the aerodynamic regulations after Mercedes produced a front wing which exploited a potential loop-hole in the regulations. Mercedes introduced slot gap separators on their front wings at the 2022 United States Grand Prix, although they did not intend to run them at the event. Rival teams argued that the new front wing was illegal. Mercedes argued that the regulations allowed slot-gap separators as they were "primarily" there for "mechanical, structural or measurement reasons", and therefore any secondary aerodynamic benefit would be allowed. The FIA ruled that the brackets were illegal at the following 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix. The wording of the regulation was altered so that the slot gap separator brackets must perform a structural role, and the sentence explaining that the primary purpose can not be aerodynamic has been removed. This rule change was intended to outlaw slot gap separators. However, this rule change had the opposite effect, as it means that slot gap separators are legal if they provide structural support, how much aerodynamic benefit they provide no longer has any bearing on their legality. Ferrari launched their car, the SF-23 with the slot gap separators.
Sporting Regulation Changes
With the intention of making tyre usage more sustainable in the future, Formula One will trial a reduction in allocated tyre sets from 13 to 11 at two races in 2023. At these races the use of tyres in qualifying will be mandated as hard in Q1, medium in Q2 and soft in Q3, assuming that the weather is dry. Teams are usually free to choose which tyre compound they run during qualifying.
Pirelli announced a change to the available tyre compounds for 2023, with a compound to be inserted between the old C1 and C2 compounds. This change is supposed to provide teams with more flexible strategy options after criticism towards the original C1 compound for a large drop in grip compared to the other tyres. Additionally, following criticism over the raceability of its full wet tyre in previous seasons, Pirelli has produced a new full wet tyre in the hope of reducing the need for safety car and red flags in wet race conditions. This new full wet tyre is scheduled to be in service from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix onwards. The sport will also aim to trial wet weather-specific bodywork designed to improve visibility and reduce spray during 2023 with the aim of fully introducing it by the start of the 2024 championship at latest.
During the F1 Commission meeting held in February 2023 it was decided to relax the restrictions on team radio communications.
Sprint events
The sprint format is due to be run at six Grands Prix from this season onwards, compared to three in 2021 and 2022. During Sprint weekends, teams will be given greater scope with which parts they are permitted to change under parc fermé conditions.
Points awarded for shortened races
The 2022 sporting regulations only specified that races ended early by a red flag used a points system that gradually increased points awarded based on the completed race distance. This caused confusion at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, where full points were awarded despite less than 75% of the scheduled distance being completed, as the race ended under green flag conditions. The wording of the regulation has now been amended: all races where less than 75% of the race distance is completed now use the sliding scale system to determine the points being given, regardless of whether they finish under red or green flag conditions. This rule change satisfies the original intention of the gradual scale points system when it was introduced in 2022.
Enactment of political gestures
The FIA's International Sporting Code (ISC) was updated to include stricter controls on drivers and teams making "political, religious and personal statements". Article 12.2.1n was introduced stating that drivers and teams must receive the FIA's permission before conducting a political statement or protest and that any protest without permission would be considered a breach of the FIA's neutrality rules. The FIA stated the update to the ISC was done to move it in line with the ethical principles of political neutrality laid out by the International Olympic Committee, which gave formal recognition to the FIA in 2013 through the Olympic Charter. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that the rule change was made to ensure that the FIA's platform was not used to help fulfil drivers' "private personal agenda".
Following concerns from drivers and teams on how these rules would affect freedom of expression and the ability of drivers and their teams to express views about what they believe to be a worthwhile cause, the FIA clarified in February 2023 that drivers would be prohibited on making political or religious statement on the following: politically-sensitive persons living or dead, military or political conflicts, separatist movements, national governments, any statements referencing a key religious figure or any statement that could be deemed offensive to the religious beliefs of the hosting country. Stewards at each Grand Prix meeting will be required to adjudge whether a driver has breached FIA neutrality rules on a case by case basis. Drivers remain free to share their opinions regarding political or religious topics without facing potential sanctions on their personal social media platforms, in an official FIA press conference providing it is in response to a media question or outside of a race weekend. Any driver looking for a special exemption to from the FIA to make a statement that may contravene the neutrality rules must notify the FIA four weeks in advance of an event.
Relaxation of COVID-19 protocols
The FIA are due to take further steps to relax COVID-19 safety protocols that were first introduced in 2020. These relaxing of restrictions includes the removal of the need for proof of vaccination for those working in the paddock.
Financial regulations
The budget cap has been reduced to 135 million US dollars. It was originally set at US$140 million in 2022 before being increased to US$142.5 million to account for inflation. It was initially agreed by the F1 Commission to increase the cost cap by US$1.2 million to account for additional costs caused by the increased number of races. The commission subsequently agreed to adjust to the level of future cost cap increases to US$1.8 million per race when a calendar is over twenty-one races to account for the greater costs of flyaway races compared to European races. Teams have also agreed give the FIA easier access to factories when cost cap audits are being carried out in order to more easily ensure that teams adhere to the cost cap. A winter shutdown of factories was introduced alongside the existing summer shutdown.
2023 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
Bahrain International Circuit
Lap data
Lap length 5.412km (3.363 miles)
Race laps 57
Race distance 308.238km (191.53 miles)
Pole position Left-hand side of the track
Lap record* 1’31.447 (Pedro de la Rosa, 2005)
Fastest lap 1’27.866 (Charles Leclerc, 2019, qualifying three)
Maximum speed 329.6kph (204.804 mph)
Distance from grid to turn one 336.49m
Full throttle 72%
Longest flat-out section 1,205m
Downforce level Medium
Gear changes per lap 56
Fuel use per lap 1.7kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel 0.054s
Pit lane time loss 18.9s
UK Times
Friday 3rd March 2023
Bahrain Grand Prix Free Practice 1: 14:30-15:30 (UK time: 11:30-12:30)
Bahrain Grand Prix Free Practice 2: 18:00-19:00 (UK time: 15:00-16:00)
Saturday 4th March 2023
Bahrain Grand Prix Free Practice 3: 14:30-15:30 (UK time: 11:30-12:30)
Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying: 18:00 (UK time: 15:00)
Sunday 5th March 2023
Bahrain Grand Prix: 18:00 (UK time: 15:00)
Previous Winners
2010 Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari Sakhir Endurance Circuit
2011 Cancelled
2012 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Sakhir Grand Prix Circuit
2013 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2014 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2015 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2016 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2017 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
2018 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
2019 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2020 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2021 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2022 Monaco Charles Leclerc Ferrari
Videos
Kimi 2005
Every team onboard pre-season 2023
