The exhilarating Formula 1 2023 season is fast approaching, and the excitement is palpable among fans and industry experts alike. Whether you’re an F1 enthusiast or looking to arrange a VIP experience for your clients, attending a Grand Prix race is a must.
This year’s races promise to showcase the exceptional skill of some of the world’s most talented drivers across 20 countries and five continents. From the legendary circuits of Europe to the shimmering lights and landmarks of Las Vegas, the 2023 Grand Prix races will take us on a journey through the very best that motorsports have to offer.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the Formula 1 race calendar, key season updates, the Bahrain pre-season test results, and how you can enhance your clients’ trackside experience.
The Formula 1 2023 race calendar
With a record-breaking 23 races in the pipeline, the F1 will hold its biggest-ever calendar this year. There were initially set to be 24, but China had to pull out due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. See below the entire 2023 F1 race schedule.
(S) indicates sprint race qualifying.
March
Sunday 5th March: Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir)
Sunday 19th March: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Jeddah)
April
Sunday 2nd April: Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
Sunday 30th April: Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku) (S)
May
Sunday 7th May: Miami Grand Prix (Miami)
Sunday 21st May: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (Imola)
Sunday 28th May: Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo)
June
Sunday 4th June: Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
Sunday 18th June: Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal)
July
Sunday 2nd July: Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg) (S)
Sunday 9th July: British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
Sunday 23rd July: Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest)
Sunday 30th July: Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps) (S)
August
Sunday 27th August: Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort)
September
Sunday 3rd September: Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
Sunday 17th September: Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore)
Sunday 24th September: Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
October
Sunday 8th October: Qatar Grand Prix (Lusail) (S)
Sunday 22nd October: United States Grand Prix (Austin) (S)
Sunday 29th October: Mexico City Grand Prix (Mexico City)
November
Sunday 5th November: Sao Paulo Grand Prix (Sao Paulo) (S)
Sunday 18th November: Las Vegas Grand Prix (Las Vegas)
Sunday 26th November: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina)
Key F1 updates
Bahrain pre-season test
After three days of testing, the pre-season F1 at the Bahrain International Circuit has come to an end. Whilst we don’t have concrete predictions for what the season will hold, there are some telling hints on which teams may come out on top for the Formula 1 2023 races.
Here’s a snapshot of how the teams fared:
| Team | Fastest Lap |
|---|---|
| Red Bull | 1m 30.305s (Sergio Perez) |
| Mercedes | 1m 30.664s (Lewis Hamilton) |
| Alfa Romeo | 1m 30.827s (Valtteri Bottas) |
| Ferrari | 1m 31.024s (Charles Leclerc) |
| AlphaTauri | 1m 31.261s (Yuki Tsunoda) |
| Haas | 1m 31.381s (Kevin Magnussen) |
| Aston Martin | 1m 31.440s (Fernando Alonso) |
| McLaren | 1m 32.160s (Lando Norris) |
| Williams | 1m 32.549s (Logan Sargeant) |
| Alpine | 1m 32.762s (Pierre Gasly) |
Unsurprisingly, Red Bull has remained strong as Sergio Perez raced the fastest lap at the pre-season, certifying their position as the favourites. Although Mercedes fared well speed-wise, they still seem to be struggling with their cars, as their running was cut short on day two due to hydraulic failure.
It looks like Ferrari will be Red Bull’s closest competition, being two-tenths of a second of them in laps on the final day, and they look confident going into the races. Overall, not many surprises in the pre-season testing, but the pecking order can never be predicted, and there’s much left to be anticipated for when the season officially kicks off.
Technical rule changes
Following last year’s big reset, there’s still been a fair few changes to the regulations for the Formula 1 2023 season, which the teams have had to contend with.
- Floor edge and diffusers
To tackle porpoising indefinitely, the FIA has imposed four significant updates: an increase of 15mm floor edge height, increased diffuser edge stiffness, increased diffuser throat height, and finally, an additional sensor to monitor the issue. - Round hoops
After Zhou Guanyu’s terrifying Silverstone crash, the safety standards for F1 car roll hoops have been adjusted, where a rounded top is required to limit excessive bending. - Larger mirrors
Returning to safety, the reflective surface of the rear-view mirrors on F1’s 2023 cars will increase by 50mm, and overall, they will be taller and wider to improve driver visibility. - Reduced car weight
The minimum car weight has been reduced again, this time by 2kg — to 796kg — so the teams will be challenged to scale down as much weight as possible. - Sprint events doubled
As seen in the calendar above, the number of exciting F1 Sprint events will be upped from three to six, adding an exhilarating dynamic to the season where you can witness the teams compete in flat-out 100km races.
Getting to the Formula 1 2023
With ROLZO, you can enhance your trackside experience and make getting to each Grand Prix race a breeze.
Whether you want an effortless transfer from the airport, an experienced chauffeur for the entire event, or to arrive at the track in a sleek sports car rental, you can arrange it all using a single, intuitive platform.
Plus, with 24/7 immediate support and access to a ROLZO specialist within seconds, you’ll enjoy a personalised service to ensure the Formula 1 experience is tailored to you and your clients’ precise needs and preferences.
Let us make your Formula 1 2023 experience unforgettable.
