The following constructors and drivers are under contract to compete in the 2023 World Championship.[1] All teams are due to compete with tyres supplied by Pirelli.[2] Each team is required to enter at least two drivers, one for each of the two mandatory cars.
Across the season, each team must field a driver in a free practice session who has not raced in more than two Grands Prix, on two occasions, once in each car.[54] The following drivers were entered at selected events to drive in free practice:
Daniel Ricciardo left McLaren after two seasons. He had a contract to drive for the team in 2023, but it was terminated during the 2022 championship by mutual agreement.[59]
His seat was filled by Piastri, who made his Formula One debut.[41]
His seat was filled by Logan Sargeant, who made his Formula One debut by graduating from Formula 2, as well as becoming the first American Formula One driver to compete since Alexander Rossi in 2015 with former team Marussia.[53]
The replacement was initially announced as the 2021 Formula 2 Champion and reserve driver Oscar Piastri.[66] Shortly after the announcement, Piastri stated that he had not signed a contract for 2023 and that he would not be driving for Alpine.[67] The FIA Contract Recognition Board ruled that he did not have any contractual obligations to race for Alpine.[68]
However, during the Dutch Grand Prix, only his third race of the season, Ricciardo broke a metacarpal bone in his left hand in a crash during the second practice session. As a result, Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri's reserve driver Liam Lawson made his Formula One debut at the race.[79] Lawson continued to substitute in for Ricciardo at the Italian, Singapore, Japanese and Qatar Grands Prix. Ricciardo returned for the United States Grand Prix.[80][81]
Italic words on the car name represents the car launch only consist of the 2023 version livery on the teams’ 2022 car, the actual car will be released on the 2023 Bahrain Test.
The Russian Grand Prix was planned to be on the 2023 calendar. It was originally meant to switch its venue from the Sochi Autodrom to Igora Drive, in Novozhilovo, located about 54 kilometres (34 mi) from Saint Petersburg.[95] However, the Grand Prix had its contract terminated in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[96]
The French Grand Prix was not featured on the 2023 calendar although the promoters of the Grand Prix stated that they would aim for a rotational race deal by sharing its slot with other Grands Prix.[97]
The Chinese Grand Prix was on the initial 2023 calendar (after last being held in 2019), however the race was cancelled in December 2022 due to "ongoing difficulties" with the COVID-19 pandemic in China. A replacement race was considered, but did not come to fruition.[98]
Following large amounts of porpoising during 2022, the FIA proposed to introduce changes to the regulations to limit excessive porpoising. Floor edges was being raised by 15 millimetres (0.59 in) and the throat of the diffuser was also being raised, by a yet to be determined amount. The diffuser edge stiffness would be increased and an additional sensor would be mandated to monitor the porpoising phenomenon more effectively.[100] Lateral floor deflection tests are more stringent.[101]
Changes to roll hoop design regulations[]
Following Zhou Guanyu's crash at the 2022 British Grand Prix, a rounded top is now being required on the roll hoop, which reduce the chance of it digging into the ground during an accident; a change had been made to ensure a minimum height for the point of application of the homologation test; there is a new physical homologation test where the load pushes the roll hoop in the forward direction; there is a definition of new tests, to be carried out by calculation.[100]
Banning of use of slot gap separators on front wings[]
The FIA altered the wording of the aerodynamic regulations, after Mercedes produced a front wing which exploited a potential loop-hole in the regulations. Mercedes introduced slot gap separators on their front wings at the 2022 United States Grand Prix, although they did not intent to run them at the event. Rival teams argued that the new front wing was illegal. Mercedes argued that the regulations allowed slot-gap separators as they were "primarily" there for "mechanical, structural or measurement reasons", and therefore any secondary aerodynamic benefit would be allowed. The FIA ruled that the brackets were illegal at the following 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix, and changed the wording of the regulations to avoid other teams using a similar argument in the future.[102]
Mirror size changes[]
The size of the mirrors had been increased for better rearward visibility.[103]
Weight and fuel temperature allowance changes[]
The allowed weight of cars was decreased by 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) compared to 2022, from 798 kg (1,759 lb) to 796 kg (1,755 lb). The allowed weight of power units whad been increased for 2023 from 150 kg (330 lb) to 151 kg (333 lb) In addition, teams have been given more flexibility in cooling fuel mixture where fuel temperatures are now allowed to be at a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F), down from 20 °C (68 °F) in 2022, or 10 °C (50 °F) below ambient temperature when cars are operating outside designated garage areas.[104][105]
Sporting regulations[]
With the intention of making tyre usage more sustainable in the future, Formula One trialed a reduction in allocated tyre sets from 13 to 11 at two races in 2023. At these races the use of tyres in qualifying was mandated as hard in Q1, medium in Q2 and soft in Q3, only if the weather is dry. Teams are usually free to choose which tyre compound they run during qualifying.[106]
Tyre Compount Tweaks[]
Pirelli announced a change to the available tyre compounds for 2023, with a compound to be inserted between the old C1 and C2 compounds. This change is supposed to provide teams with more flexible strategy options after criticism towards the original C1 compound for a large drop in grip compared to the other tyres.[107], the selection is as follows:
These are the eight Formula One tyre compounds supplied by Pirelli for the 2023 season
The budget cap had been reduced to $135 million. It was originally set at $140m in 2022 before it was being increased to $142.4m to account for inflation.[103]
There was only three days of pre-season testing, a reduction from 2022 when there were six days.[103]
To accommodate the sprint events, a fresh weekend format was introduced, departing from the one used in 2021 and 2022. The revamped schedule kicks off with a single practice session on Friday, followed by the all-important qualifying session to determine the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. On Saturday, a thrilling new qualifying session, Sprint Shootout, replaces the former second practice session. This session is solely responsible for establishing the grid positions for the Sprint.
The Grand Prix itself still takes place on Sunday, but the build-up and anticipation were heightened by the intense Sprint Shootout on Saturday.
In contrast to the traditional qualifying, the Sprint Shootout qualifying features shorter durations for each phase. Q1 lasts for 12 minutes, Q2 for 10 minutes, and Q3 for a nail-biting 8 minutes. Additionally, a fresh set of tires was mandatory for each phase of the Sprint Shootout. Teams must use medium tires for Q1 and Q2, while the high-performance soft tires are reserved for Q3, adding a strategic twist to the proceedings.[111]
Ahead of the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, the FIA modified the rules for tire usage during the Sprint Shootout. Race Director, Niels Wittich, announced the revised rule for Article 30.5 h) iv), to:
“In the period SQ3 of the sprint shootout, up to one set of dry-weather tyres may be used, and this must only be a set of the soft specification.”
Ultimately, this allowed teams to use a used set of tires in Sprint Shootout.[112]
Enactment of political gestures[]
The FIA's International Sporting Code has been updated for 2023 to include stricter controls on drivers and teams making political statements with a new article 12.2.1n introduced stating that drivers and teams must receive FIA permission before conducting a political statement or protest and that any protest without permission would be considered a breach of the FIA's neutrality rules. The move was widely seen as response to acts such as Lewis Hamilton wearing a t-shirt in support of police-killed black-American woman Breonna Taylor on the podium at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.[113][114] The FIA stated this update to the ISC was done to move it in line with the ethical principles of political neutrality laid out by the International Olympic Committee, which gave formal recognition to the FIA in 2013 in the Olympic Charter.[115]
Points[]
Grand Prix[]
The point scoring system would remain unchanged for 2023, and would continue to follow the FIA's standardized system:
2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Points Table
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
FL
25
18
15
12
10
8
6
4
2
1
1
Sprint[]
The sprint point scoring system would remain unchanged for 2023:
2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Sprint Race Points Table
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Points awarded for shortened races[]
The 2022 sporting regulations only specified that races ended early by a red flag used a points system that gradually increased points awarded based on the completed race distance. This caused confusion at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix, where full points were awarded despite less than 75% of the scheduled distance being completed, as the race ended under green flag conditions. The wording of the regulation has now been amended: all races where less than 75% of the race distance is completed now use the sliding scale system to determine the points being given, regardless of whether they finish under red or green flag conditions. This rule change satisfies the original intention of the gradual scale points system when it was introduced in 2022.[116]
Relaxation of COVID-19 protocols[]
The FIA announced that they would take further steps to relax COVID-19 safety protocols that were first introduced in 2020. These relaxing of restrictions is likely to include the removal of the need for proof of vaccination for those working in the paddock. The FIA had previously dropped the requirements for mandatory face masking and mandatory COVID-testing in 2022.[117]
Financial regulations[]
The budget cap has been reduced to 135 million USD. It was originally set at US$140 million in 2022 before being increased to US$142.5 million to account for inflation.[103] It was initially agreed by the F1 Commission to increase the cost cap by US$1.2 million to account for additional costs caused by the increased number of races. The commission subsquently agreed to adjust to the level of future cost cap increases to US$1.8 million per race when a calendar is over twenty-one races to account for the greater costs of flyaway races compared to European races. Teams have also agreed give the FIA easier access to factories when cost cap audits are being carried out in order to more easily ensure that teams adhere to the cost cap. A winter shutdown of factories was introduced alongside the existing summer shutdown.[118]
Season summary[]
This section is incomplete. If you'd like to help, please add the relevant information.
↑Formula One. (2023, December 24). Here's how the Mercedes men compare in 2023 ⚔️. #F1 #Formula1 @lewishamilton @georgerussell63 @mercedesamgf1. Instagram. Retrieved December 24, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C1PMXpvMxtW/
↑Formula One. (2023, December 20).Charles 🆚 Carlos. The story of the 2023 season at @scuderiaferrari 👀. #F1 #Formula1. Instagram. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C1J9LUECvwF
↑Formula One. (2023, December 20).A memorable year at McLaren - how does rookie Oscar Piastri compare to Lando Norris? 🟠👊. #F1 #Formula1 @mclaren @landonorris @oscarpiastri. Instagram. Retrieved December 21, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Ev7JktikC
↑Formula One. (2023, December 19). Alonso ⚔️ Stroll. Head to head at @astonmartinf1 in 2023 🔍👀. #F1 #Formula1. Instagram. Retrieved December 21, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C0_qp0uomjm
↑Formula One. (2023, December 16). One podium each, and some very close scores between the French team mates 🤏Who impressed you more in the 2023 season? 🇫🇷 #F1 #Formula1 @estebanocon @pierregasly @alpinef1tea. Instagram. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C03y6npMAEx
↑Formula One. (2023, December 11). Alex Albon 🆚 Logan Sargeant in 2023 👀 #F1 @williamsracing. Instagram. Retrieved December 12, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C0tpAYfL0lj
↑Formula One. (2023, December 5). How the @alfaromeostake duo compared in 2023 🔎👀 #F1 #Formula1 @valtteribottas @zhouguanyu24. Instagram. Retrieved December 12, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C0cD1sAIUmY
↑Formula One. (2023, December 1). Here's how the @haasf1team duo compared in 2023 ⚖️ #F1 #Formula1 #NicoHulkenberg #KevinMagnussen. Instagram. Retrieved December 12, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/p/C0T38vdI6DE