F1 confirms 23-race season as Chinese GP won’t be replaced

Formula 1 has confirmed that the Chinese Grand Prix will not be reinstated to the 2023 calendar, leaving the upcoming season with a record 23-race schedule.

Canceled every year since 2020 due to COVID-19 and the country’s restrictions, there had been a chance that the race could return after China lifted the restrictions on entering the country.

But on Tuesday Formula 1 announced that would not be the case and that the race would not be replaced, leaving a four-week gap between the Australian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The announcement also confirms that the popular Portimao circuit in Portugal also won’t be returning to F1, having appeared in the COVID-hit 2020 and 2021 seasons, with Lewis Hamilton winning on both occasions.

Still a record number of races

In September of last year, F1 announced the 24-race schedule, which saw China and Qatar return to the calendar, as well as the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November.

But, in December, F1 said the race would not take place due to “ongoing difficulties due to the COVID-19 situation.”

And with the race now definitively off the calendar, a four-week gap has opened up between round 3 in Melbourne and Round 4 in Baku, even though it had been rumored that F1 was attempting to bring the Baku race forward.

However, given that it is a street circuit, that was always unlikely to be possible as street circuits take many weeks to prepare for.

Team members may welcome that break after the opening three “fly-away” races and the gap could also be well-timed as Baku hosts the first of six Sprint weekends in 2023.

The 2023 Calendar

The 2023 season kicks off in Bahrain for the third year in a row on March 5th and concludes in Abu Dhabi on November 26^th.

Bahrain also hosts the single pre-season test, which runs from February 23^rd – 25^th at the Sakhir circuit.

Below is the confirmed full 2023 calendar.

*Subject to FIA homologation.