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Formula 1 has chosen the six grands prix that will host sprint races in 2023, with four venues running the format for the first time.
F1 introduced the sprint format in 2021, trialling a short Saturday race at Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos.
The format moves qualifying to late on Friday and that sets the grid for the sprint, which awards points to the leading finishers and decides the starting order for Sunday’s grand prix.
F1 declared its trial a rousing success despite a lukewarm reception at best among some fans, so tried to expand it to six sprint events in 2021.
This was rebuffed, supposedly by the FIA on cost grounds, but was eventually agreed upon for 2023 instead.
F1 has decided that the six sprint races will be in Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, the United States and Brazil.
F1 SPRINTS IN 2023
April 30: Azerbaijan
July 2: Austria
July 30: Belgium
October 8: Qatar
October 22: United States
November 5: Brazil
Austria’s Red Bull Ring hosted a sprint for the first time this year while Interlagos will continue to be the only venue to have a Saturday race every season since the inception of the format.
The other four races will be hosting a sprint for the first time.
F1 is believed to have considerable interest from almost every race to host a sprint, and selected the venues based on the quality of racing championship bosses believe is possible at the track.
There will be no changes to current 2022 format but F1 has indicated discussions are still ongoing about what could be adapted for the future.
Some in F1 are keen to amend parc ferme rules so that teams can make more set-up changes after qualifying.
There is also widespread agreement that the worst part of the sprint schedule is that it includes a free practice session on Saturday before the sprint, which is not entertaining for fans as it is only of use to teams and drivers as a data-gathering exercise on higher fuel.
BREAKING: F1 Sprint venues confirmed for 2023!
Sprint is heading to Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Brazil#F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/TKzKnnjNhf
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 7, 2022
F1 also hasn’t given up on a more radical idea to have the sprint as a completely standalone event.
This would mean qualifying sets the grid for the grand prix, like in a normal weekend, and the sprint is an entirely separate race with its own qualifying session.
The idea would be to motivate drivers to take more risk by awarding more points and not making them worry about compromising their grid position for the main race.
FULL F1 2023 CALENDAR
February 23-25: Bahrain pre-season test
March 5: Bahrain
March 19: Saudi Arabia
April 2: Australia
April 16: TBD
April 30: Azerbaijan*
May 7: Miami
May 21: Emilia Romagna (Imola)
May 28: Monaco
June 4: Spain
June 18: Canada
July 2: Austria*
July 9: Britain
July 23: Hungary
July 30:Belgium*
August 27: Netherlands
September 3: Italy
September 17: Singapore
September 24: Japan
October 8: Qatar*
October 22: United States*
October 29: Mexico
November 5: Brazil*
November 18: Las Vegas
November 26: Abu Dhabi
* includes sprint race
