The new Formula 1 season is almost here with the opening race in Bahrain in a week.
Pre-season testing concluded on Saturday at the same track of the Bahrain International Circuit, with two-time world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull still looking for the beating. Mexican Sergio Perez set the fastest lap of the week.
Ferrari looked as good as Mercedes Lewis Hamilton 0.359 seconds slower than Perez.
McLaren, meanwhile, admitted they will start the new campaign with a backlog after missing their development targets.
When is the first race of 2023?
The first Grand Prix of the 2023 season is also at the Bahrain International Circuit, running from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 March.
How many F1 races will there be in 2023?
There are 23 races on the calendar this year, starting in Bahrain on March 5 and concluding with the season finale in Abu Dhabi on November 26.
What new races will be in 2023?
The brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix will be the penultimate race of the season, one week before Abu Dhabi.
Where and when are the six speed races this year?
Formula 1 has announced the six sprint locations for 2023. Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Austin race in the United States and Qatar all join Austria and Brazil in qualifying on Friday and a shortened ‘sprint’ race on Saturday.
Three sprint races were held in 2022 – in Imola, Austria and Brazil – with much discussion early in the season about expanding that offering for next year.
The teams and F1 were keen to double the numbers, arguing that sprint races have been successful in attracting fans and increasing audiences. But the FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, initially resisted, claiming it would cost them more and asking for compensation.
Just like last year, points will also be awarded to the eight best drivers in the sprint race. Again, the sprint races will be around 100km – or about a third of a Grand Prix distance – and will take place on Saturday, with the traditional three-part qualifying setting the grid for the sprint taking place on Friday.
The driver who tops qualifying on Friday when these sprint races take place will be awarded the official pole position, not the sprint winner, as was the case in 2021.
What are the driver line-ups?
Red Bull
Max Verstappen (1) and Sergio Perez (11)
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (44) and George Russell (63)
Ferrari
Carlos Sainz (55) and Charles Leclerc (55)
Alps
Esteban Ocon (31) and Pierre Gasly (10)
McLaren
Lando Norris (4) and Oscar Piastri (81)
Alfa Romeo
Valtteri Bottas (77) and Guanyu Zhou (24)
Aston Martin
Lance Stroll (18) and Fernando Alonso (14)
Hare
Kevin Magnussen (20) and Nico Hulkenberg (27)
AlphaTauri
Yuki Tsunoda (22) and Nyck de Vries (21)
Willems
Alexander Albon (23) and Logan Sargeant (2)
What is the full calendar?
March
5: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
April
2: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
30: Grand Prix of Azerbaijan, Baku +
Be able to
7: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
21: Grand Prix Emilia Romagna, Imola
28: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
June
4: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
18: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
July
2: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg +
9: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
23: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
30: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps +
August
27: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
September
3: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
17: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
24: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
October
8: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail+
22: United States Grand Prix, Austin +
29: Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico City
November
5: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Sao Paulo +
18: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
26: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
+ Indicates the weekend of the sprint event