The 2023 Formula 1 season is sort of upon us and preparation is already properly underway for the brand new marketing campaign.
This 12 months sees 23 races held in a record-breaking calendar, as Max Verstappen appears to be like to make it three in a row following back-to-back World Championship triumphs.
Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes crew will likely be focusing on enchancment following a disappointing 2022 season, whereas Ferrari will likely be seeking to be taught from final 12 months’s mishaps and errors as they eye their first Drivers title in 16 years.
There are new faces on the grid too – similar to Oscar Piastri and Nyck de Vries – and all 20 drivers will likely be itching to get again on monitor after a three-month break with the official pre-season check in Bahrain.
Here is all the pieces it is advisable know.
When is F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain?
Pre-season testing takes place on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir from Thursday 23 February – Saturday 25 February.
Running will happen between 7am and 4:30pm (GMT) on every of the three days. There will likely be an hour’s break halfway by means of every session for lunch.
Each driver can have one-and-a-half days price of time within the automobile.
The first race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place on the similar circuit every week later, on 3-5 March.
How can I watch it on-line and on TV?
The entirety of pre-season testing will likely be broadcast stay on Sky Sports within the United Kingdom.
Sky Sports subscribers can stream pre-season testing on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky buyer you possibly can seize a NOWTV Day Pass right here to observe with out a subscription.
We might earn fee from among the hyperlinks on this article, however we by no means permit this to affect our content material. This income helps to fund journalism throughout The Independent.
What has been mentioned?
Fernando Alonso has voiced his displeasure on the lack of testing time accessible to drivers forward of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
The two-time world champion was talking on the launch of Aston Martinn’s 2023 automobile at Silverstone final Monday night time, with team-mate Lance Stroll additionally current.
Alonso, who joins Aston from Alpine following Sebastian Vettel’s retirement, doesn’t have lengthy to acclimatise to his new crew, with the three day testing window in Bahrain which means the 41-year-old can have only one day-and-a-half to trial the brand new automobile.
The first race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place every week later.
“It is a little bit unfair”, he informed a bunch of journalists final Monday. “This is the only sport in the world where you do one-and-a-half days practice and then you’re into a World Championship.”
What are the driving force line-ups for 2023?
RED BULL
Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez
FERRARI
Charles Leclerc
Carlos Sainz
MERCEDES
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell
ALPINE
Esteban Ocon
Pierre Gasly
McLAREN
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
ALFA ROMEO
Valtteri Bottas
Zhou Guanyu
ASTON MARTIN
Fernando Alonso
Lance Stroll
HAAS
Kevin Magnussen
Nico Hulkenberg
ALPHATAURI
Yuki Tsunoda
Nyck de Vries
WILLIAMS
Alex Albon
Logan Sargeant
*italics represents new addition to the grid/change of crew
What is the 2023 F1 calendar?
ROUND 1 —BAHRAIN
Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir – 3-5 March
ROUND 2 – SAUDI ARABIA
Jeddah Corniche Circuit – 17-19 March
ROUND 3 – AUSTRALIA
Albert Park, Melbourne – 31 March-2 April
ROUND 4 – AZERBAIJAN (dash weekend)
Baku City Circuit – 28-30 April
ROUND 5 – MIAMI
Miami International Autodrome, Hard Rock Stadium – 5-7 May
ROUND 6 – EMILIA ROMAGNA
Imola Circuit – 19-21 May
ROUND 7 – MONACO
Circuit de Monaco – 26-28 May
ROUND 8 – SPAIN
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – 2-4 June
ROUND 9 – CANADA
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal – 16-18 June
ROUND 10 – AUSTRIA (dash weekend)
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg – 30 June-2 July
ROUND 11 – GREAT BRITAIN
Silverstone Circuit – 7-9 July
ROUND 12 – HUNGARY
Hungaroring, Budapest – 21-23 July
ROUND 13 – BELGIUM (dash weekend)
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps – 28-30 July
ROUND 14 – NETHERLANDS
Circuit Zandvoort – 25-27 August
ROUND 15 – ITALY
Monza Circuit – 1-3 September
ROUND 16 – SINGAPORE
Marina Bay Street Circuit – 15-17 September
ROUND 17 – JAPAN
Suzuka International Racing Course – 22-24 September
ROUND 18 – QATAR (dash weekend)
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail – 6-8 October
ROUND 19 – UNITED STATES (dash weekend)
Circuit of the Americas, Austin – 20-22 October
ROUND 20 – MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City – 27-29 October
ROUND 21 – BRAZIL (dash weekend)
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo – 3-5 November
ROUND 22 – LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Street Circuit – 16-18 November
ROUND 23 – ABU DHABI
Yas Marina Circuit – 24-26 November