F1 announces record 24-race calendar for 2023 season
london: Formula 1 on Tuesday announced a 24race calendar for the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship, the longest season in recent times which stretches from early March to late November and includes races in China, Qatar and Las Vegas.
The calendar approved by the World Motor Sport Council, kicks off in Bahrain on March 5 and concludesinabudhabionnovember26,theseason will feature a record-breaking 24 races, with China and Qatar set to return, and Las Vegas arriving as the penultimate round for a Saturday night race.
Qatar will also host its second ever F1 Grand Prix, ater making its debut in 2021, on 8 October.
There are two triple-headers slated in: from 21 May-4 June at Imola, Monaco and Barcelona and 22 October-5 November in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.
The traditional summer break will remain in August, though changes to race dates see Belgium move to the end of July as a back-to-back with Hungary, while the Netherlands is twinned with Italy ater the restart, said a report on the f1 website.
Speaking of the announcement of the calendar, Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said: “We are excited to announce the 2023 calendar with 24 races around the world. Formula 1 has unprecedented demand to host races and it is important we get the balance right for the entire sport.
“Weareverypleasedwiththestrongmomentum Formula 1 continues to experience and it is great news that we will be able to bring our passionate fans a mix of exciting new locations such as Las Vegastothechampionshipwithmuch-lovedvenues across Europe, Asia and the Americas.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The presence of 24 races on the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is further evidence of the growth and appeal of the sport on a global scale.
“The addition of new venues and the retention of traditional events underlines the FIA’S sound stewardship of the sport. I am delighted that we will be able to take Formula 1’s new era of exciting racing, created by the FIA’S 2022 Regulations, to a broader fan base in 2023.
“In framing the 2023 F1 calendar, WMSC Members have also been mindful of the timing of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
The 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary race takes place on the weekend of 10-11 June, with no F1 race scheduled.
ALONSOWILLCHALLENGEASTONMARTIN,SAYS KRACK: Fernando Alonso has the “speed, hunger, motivation and experience” to help Aston Martin take the next step but things could get difficult if they do not deliver a fast enough car for the former world champion, team boss Mike Krack said.
Alonsoissettomakethemovefromrenault-owned Alpine to Aston Martin in 2023 as a replacement for four-times world champion Sebastian Vetel, who is retiring at the end of the current season.
“It will be challenging for us. Normally, drivers with this experience, they do not have this desire to win ... especially if they have won already,” Krack told the BBC in an interview published on Tuesday.
“Fernando has this unique combination of speed, hunger, motivation and experience. For us, it makes the perfect candidate. The downside could be that if the car we deliver is just not good enough, then we know it gets difficult.”