F1 unveils the six locations for Sprint races in 2023
Azerbaijan, Belgium, the United States and Qatar are set to host Formula 1 Sprint races for the first time in 2023 as the schedule has been officially confirmed.
Plans were made earlier in 2022 to increase the number of Sprint races from three to six for 2023, with teams set to receive extra allowance in terms of costs as a result.
The format will remain the same, with qualifying taking place on the Friday to set the grid for the one-third distance Sprint, which in turn decides the grid for Sunday's main Grand Prix.
The points system of 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 will remain for the top eight finishers, with a total of 48 points on offer across the events for the winning driver.
Below are the venues and dates of the 2023 Formula 1 Sprint races, with the first set to be in Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
2023 Formula 1 Sprint races
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | 29 April |
| Austria | 1 July |
| Belgium | 29 July |
| Qatar | 7 October |
| United States | 21 October |
| Brazil | 4 November |
Qatar returns with a Sprint
Of the six venues, only Austria has previously held a Sprint race, having hosted the second one in the 2022 season, won by Max Verstappen.
The Baku City Circuit will become the first street track to hold a Sprint race when it hosts the first one of the campaign in late April, before two more are held in July.
Belgium is being brought forward on the calendar to before the summer break, with the final race before it set to be a Sprint weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.
Elsewhere, Qatar's return to the calendar will see a sprint added at the Losail Circuit.
The first Qatar Grand Prix was run in 2021, before a planned year off in 2022 while the country hosts the FIFA World Cup.
Plans for a street race in Losail have been dropped, with F1 set to return to the MotoGP venue in October before the final Americas leg of the season.
The United States Grand Prix at Austin will feature a Sprint for the first time, before the final one of the season is held at Interlagos.
The Sao Paolo venue will therefore be the only track to have held a Sprint race in all three seasons, owing to the overtaking possibilities presented.
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