Here’s the full 2023 F1 calendar, plus every podium and an updated look at the Driver’s Championship, from every round of the season.
*Originally published as The ‘exhausting’ 2023 F1 calendar and its contradictions
The 2023 F1 calendar was bigger than ever before and that certainly gave Max Verstappen the runway to pull even further away from the field than normal. And that’s exactly what he did, putting the finishing touches on a third world championship — which has been beyond dominant.
Verstappen cemented his legacy this season; previously winning a record-breaking 10 straight F1 races earlier this season and making it 18 total race wins in the end.
It’s pure insanity from Red Bull and its lead driver, finishing strongly to pinch the inaugural Las Vegas race and then the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The defending Driver’s Champion claimed a record 54th race win with Red Bull, pushing 16 ahead of Sebastian Vettel’s 38 after overtaking the German earlier this season.
Only Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost have reached 50 in F1.
UPDATED DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS, TOP 5:
- Max Verstappen, NED, Red Bull | 575 points
- Sergio Perez, MEX, Red Bull | 285 points
- Lewis Hamilton, GBR, Mercedes | 234 points
- Fernando Alonso, ESP, Aston Martin | 206 points
- Charles Leclerc, MON, Ferrari | 206 points
And while 2023’s headline is undoubtedly the fact it’s been another dominant Driver’s Championship campaign, Australia’s celebrating 22-year-old Piastri’s outstanding growth. The Japanese GP marked his first podium finish; he managed two straight.
Scroll down to read about why the 2023 F1 calendar contradicts everything it stands for.
Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 return
Back in a seat, driving for AlphaTauri, Dan Ricciardo put together a noticeable return to the Formula 1 — recovering from an early prang to finish strong, getting to 13th.
What were the new events on the 2023 F1 calendar?
LAS VEGAS, USA
The 2023 season saw the inaugural race in Las Vegas, which garnered near unprecedented attention from fans around the world (particularly from those wealthy enough to take advantage!). It’s a street circuit that quite interestingly incorporates the strip; generating some exceptional views from various vantage points around the city. Tickets sold out in minutes.
The F1 calendar is an extended 24-race trip around the world now, with the addition of Vegas certainly a new major drawcard. It means three of the 24 events now take place in the United States.
RELATED | 2022: Max steers clear to record F1’s greatest ever season
Key dates, races & results: F1 Guide 2023
Testing: Sakhir | February 23-25
The season’s official testing location is the Bahrain International circuit, a fortnight before the season opener at the same venue.
Round 1: Bahrain | March 3-5
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Perez (Red Bull) 3. Alonso (Aston Martin)
Round 2: Saudi Arabia | March 17-19
Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah Corniche Circuit in the port city of Jeddah
PODIUM: 1. Perez (Red Bull) 2. Verstappen (Red Bull) 3. Alonso (Aston Martin)
Round 3: Australia | March 31 – April 2
Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Hamilton (Mercedes) 3. Alonso (Aston Martin)
RELATED | Check out the complete list of the new F1 drivers in 2023
Round 4: Azerbaijan | April 28-30
Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan
PODIUM: 1. Perez (Red Bull) 2. Verstappen (Red Bull) 3. Leclerc (Ferrari)
Round 5: United States | May 5-7
Formula 1 crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Miami International Autodrome
A purpose-built temporary circuit around Hard rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Perez (Red Bull) 3. Alonso (Aston Martin)
Round 6: Italy | May 19-21
CANCELLED
Formula 1 Gran Premio Del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia Romagno Grand Prix, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Commonly known as Imola and former home of the San Marino GP.
Round 7: Monaco | May 26-28
Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Alonso (Aston Martin) 3. Ocon (Alpine)
Round 8: Spain | June 2-4
Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Hamilton (Mercedes) 3. Russell (Mercedes)
Round 9: Canada | June 16-18
Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Alonso (Aston Martin) 3. Hamilton (Mercedes)
Round 10: Austria | June 30-July 2
Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Österreich, Red Bull Ring in Spielberg
PODIUM: Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Leclerc (Ferrari) 3. Perez (Red Bull)
Round 11: Great Britain | July 7-9
Formula 1 Armco British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit in Towcester
Halfway in between London and Birmingham.
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Norris (McLaren) 3. Hamilton (Mercedes)
Round 12: Hungary | July 21-23
Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring in Budapest
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Norris (McLaren) 3. Perez (Red Bull)
Round 13: Belgium | July 28-30
Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Round 14: Netherlands | August 25-27
Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, Circuit Zandvoort
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Round 15: Italy | September 1-3
Formula 1 Gran Premio D’Italia, Autodromo Nazionale Monza
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Round 16: Singapore | September 15-17
Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit
PODIUM: 1. Sainz (Ferrari) 2. Lando Norris (McLaren) 3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
For the first time, it wasn’t a Red Bull driver on top of the podium. It only took 16 F1 races!
Round 17: Japan | September 22-24
Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka International Racing Course
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Norris (McLaren) 3. Piastri (McLaren)
Round 18: Qatar | October 6-8
Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, Losail International Circuit
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Piastri (McLaren) 3. Norris (McLaren)
Round 19: United States | October 20-22
Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
Round 20: Mexico | October 27-29
Formula 1 Gran Premio De La Ciudadde Mexico, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Round 21: Brazil | November 3-5
Formula 1 Rolex Grande Premio de Sao Paulo, Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
Better known as Interlagos.
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Norris (McLaren) 3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Round 22: United States | November 16-18
Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas, on a temporary street circuit in Las Vegas, Nevada
Including along the main strip in Vegas.
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
Round 23: Abu Dhabi | November 24-26
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island
PODIUM: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 3. George Russell (Mercedes)
Opinion: The 2023 F1 Calendar contradicts everything it stands for
The FIA has let down the die-hard fans and drivers of F1 with an updated 24-race schedule for the 2023 season
– Dominic Criniti
The FIA is flying very close to the sun.
The F1’s official governing body, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, has released its 2023 Calendar. It defies a few key sticking points.
What are the main issues with the 2023 Formula 1 schedule?
Driver welfare, neutralising carbon emissions and basic human rights are all themes of the backlash being aimed towards the FIA.
Having already moved to a 22-race season last year with the addition of the Jeddah Grand Prix, there are no signs of slowing down. The Miami Grand Prix was added in for the 2022 season and with the announcement of Qatar for 2024, the timetable threatens to cause further burnout both with fans and within teams – particularly drivers.
In recent years, the F1 drivers have done some ground-breaking work in breaking down barriers for the LGBTQIA+ community, but all their hard work is seemingly becoming undone by the FIA’s relentless pursuit of more money.
The three middle-eastern countries where F1 will race in 2024 all have strict laws against same-sex relationships, with Qatar notably still enforcing the death penalty for such ‘crimes’.
The FIA, along with the F1, launched the ‘we race as one’ program, which was aimed to promote the LGBTQIA+ community. But certain countries that host races still punish members of the LGBTQIA+ community; jail, and in some cases even the death penalty.
In what’s a clear contradiction, the FIA’s actions are speaking the loudest.
Drivers are conscious of what their employer is prioritising.
In the final race of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, champion elect Lewis Hamilton opted to wear a helmet with the rainbow flag. It sent a firm message on behalf of drivers.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter Saudi Arabian president promised to transition away from the death penalty, 81 executions were carried out. Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s poor track record with women’s rights are also well publicised.
The second edition of the Jeddah Grand Prix at the start of this year was halted midway through the race weekend when the Aramco supply factory was the centre of a targeted attack just ten kilometres from the race track. The visible smoke and flames forced the drivers into a crisis meeting where the FIA assured them of their safety.
Large fire at Aramco facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after Houthi missile attack. It's worth noting that the Formula 1 is in Jeddah this weekend. pic.twitter.com/Ozk35ekuu0
— Kyle Glen (@KyleJGlen) March 25, 2022
It’s only a matter of time before something comes to a head.
And as recently as 2020, the FIA and F1 launched a campaign to neutralise the sport’s carbon emissions and reduce their carbon footprint.
When the new race in Qatar was announced, the FIA promised it would group the races together geographically; to reduce its carbon footprint and the effects of long travel on its drivers.
There are signs an effort has been made, but still a few major outliers.
The season starts and finishes in the Middle East, with the Australian leg the third stop. After six races, the drivers will have already travelled to four different continents… not even including Europe. This long travel impacts drivers’ ability to perform, not to mention the cost and logistics of moving the cars and teams across the world in such a short time frame.
what happened to grouping races which are relatively close together to reduce the sports carbon footprint? did we forget about that whilst stressing over drivers jewellery
— mimi (@DAIlSYJONES) September 20, 2022
There is only so much financial remuneration that will keep quelling internal concerns.
As drivers face more jetlag and fatigue, even fans now are losing patience with F1 moving tiresomely close to being a year-long ordeal.
The championship is often wrapped up by the middle of the season, rendering the final few races less relevant and of a lower quality.
There’s a breaking point and the FIA might’ve already reached it.
“Net Zero by 2030”
— 2024 WDC (@GucciGasly) September 20, 2022
*goes to Canada right in the middle of the European run of races*
