Formula 1 2023 season: Calendar confirmed with no Chinese Grand Prix substitute

The 2023 Formula 1 season will have 23 races instead of 24, as originally planned. Regardless, the calendar for the coming year has the most races ever in history – surpassing 2022 and 2021 which had 22 races each. 

The Chinese Grand Prix had to be called off due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place. No replacement venue has been chosen for the weekend, which means that the 23-race calendar is now set to go through. The decision has been confirmed on their official website, with an official statement. 

2023 Formula 1 season to have 23 races instead of 24 

“Formula 1 can confirm that the 2023 season will consist of 23 races,” the official statement read. 

“That means the season will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5, and finish up in Abu Dhabi on November 26, with the brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix joining the calendar a week before the season finale.”

Owing to the restrictions in place in China, there seems to be no opportunity for a return to the country until 2024. The Chinese Grand Prix has not been part of the calendar since 2019, and the wait for a return will reach a 5-year period at the very least. 

As a result, there will only be two races in April – the Australian Grand Prix on April 2nd and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on April 30th. Testing for the new season will take place between February 23-25 and the first race is scheduled on March 5 in Bahrain.