Spa and Baku part of F1’s six sprint venues for 2023
Formula 1 has provisionally chosen the six locations where it plans to hold sprint races in 2023, with Spa and Baku on the list.
With the FIA having recently given the green light for the number of sprints to expand next year from the current three, F1 chiefs have been carefully considering where best to hold the events.
During a meeting of the F1 Commission in Abu Dhabi on Friday, part of the discussions were devoted to plans for the 2023 season and where the sprints should take place.
Multiple sources have confirmed that F1 told teams its current plan is for the sprints to run in:
Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku
Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring
Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps
Qatar Grand Prix - Losail
United States Grand Prix - Austin
Brazilian Grand Prix - Interlagos
While the locations are not yet totally set in stone, with Saudi remaining in contention for a possible switch with Qatar, high level sources indicate the other venues are pretty much locked in.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-22, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18, George Russell, Mercedes W13
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
The choice of venues is slightly different from F1’s previous preferred six venues that were originally laid out for this season, before those plans were scuppered by teams rejecting the idea of more sprints.
For 2022, F1 had wanted sprints in Bahrain, Imola, Canada, Austria, the Netherlands and Brazil.
Autosport understands that the change of some venues has come about because of a desire to ensure the sprints take place at venues where overtaking opportunities are great – rather than locations that were willing to pay the most for the privilege of hosting a sprint.
F1 has an overtaking index for tracks that shows which venues are better for racing, and that has played a big factor in its choice
Speaking exclusively to Autosport about the driving force for the change of sprint venues, F1 managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn said: “They are not necessarily the most commercially lucrative of the options we have, but they're the ones where we thought the sprint would work well.
“We're trying to find a balance. And that's what we will always do. We'll never compromise on the event.”
As well as settling on the locations of the sprints, F1 is still evaluating the idea of making the Saturday races standalone events so that they do not decide the grid for the main grand prix.
F1 Abu Dhabi GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more
FIA dismisses pro-Mercedes F1 bias and leak allegations
Why Vasseur isn't wielding the axe on Ferrari's F1 strategy team
As Ferrari reflected on the lost opportunities of the 2022 Formula 1 season, it did not take a genius to understand that strategy had been one of its core weaknesses.
Winward Mercedes replaces injured Auer with Morad for Daytona 24
Lucas Auer will sit out the Daytona 24 Hours after suffering back injuries in practice and will be replaced by GT4 racer Daniel Morad at Winward Mercedes.
The big question concerning IMSA's new LMDh cars on their debut
The new LMDh era finally begins in earnest this weekend with the IMSA SportsCar Championship curtain-raiser at Daytona. The prospect of multiple marques going all guns blazing for victory over 24 hours is a salivating one for fans of sportscar racing, but what are the chances of the new hybrid machines (known as GTP cars Stateside) proving reliable enough to win on debut?
WRC developing experimental propulsion class
The World Rally Championship is developing a new demonstration class that will allow manufacturers and teams to develop and experiment with alternative propulsion methods.
Why Vasseur relishes 'feeling the pressure' as Ferrari's F1 boss
OPINION: Fred Vasseur has spent only a few weeks as team principal for the Ferrari Formula 1 team, but is already intent on taking the Scuderia back to the very top. And despite it being arguably the most demanding job in motorsport, the Frenchman is relishing the challenge
The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
Changes to the regulations for season two of Formula 1's ground-effects era aim to smooth out last year’s troubles and shut down loopholes. But what areas have been targeted, and what impact will this have?
Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
Who are the quickest drivers in Formula 1 history? LUKE SMITH asked a jury of experienced and international panel of experts and F1 insiders. Some of them have worked closely with F1’s fastest-ever drivers – so who better to vote on our all-time top 50? We’re talking all-out speed here rather than size of trophy cabinet, so the results may surprise you…
One easy way the FIA could instantly improve F1
OPINION: During what is traditionally a very quiet time of year in the Formula 1 news cycle, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been generating headlines. He’s been commenting on massive topics in a championship that loves them, but also addressing necessary smaller changes too. Here we suggest a further refinement that would be a big boon to fans
How can McLaren keep hold of Norris?
Lando Norris is no longer the young cheeky-chappy at McLaren; he’s now the established ace. And F1's big guns will come calling if the team can’t give him a competitive car. Here's what the team needs to do to retain its prize asset
What difference did F1's fastest pitstops of 2022 make?
While a quick pitstop can make all the difference to the outcome of a Formula 1 race, most team managers say consistency is more important than pure speed. MATT KEW analyses the fastest pitstops from last season to see which ones – if any – made a genuine impact
When F1 ‘holiday’ races kept drivers busy through the winter
Modern Formula 1 fans have grown accustomed to a lull in racing during winter in the northern hemisphere. But, as MAURICE HAMILTON explains, there was a time when teams headed south of the equator rather than bunkering down in the factory. And why not? There was fun to be had, money to be made and reputations to forge…
What Porsche social media frenzy says about F1’s manufacturer allure
Porsche whipped up a frenzy thanks to a cryptic social media post last week and, although it turned out to be a false alarm, it also highlighted why manufacturers remain such an important element in terms of the attraction that they bring to F1. It is little wonder that several other manufacturers are bidding for a slice of the action
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.