Australia Initiates Reform Era - First Step in Madrid - Australia's Legislation Overhaul Kicks Off - Launch in Spain
Get ready, racing enthusiasts! The Formula 1 season of 2023 doesn't break ground in Bahrain during Ramadan, as initially expected. Instead, it roars into action at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, with the Australian Grand Prix setting the stage on March 8. The first 24 races of the year are scheduled to unfold, with the Chinese race slotted for a week later, followed by Japan on March 29.
In 2023, Formula 1 gears up for significant rule reforms promoting even greater sustainability. One of these changes involves powering cars with 100% CO2-neutral fuel.
Avoiding Ramadan Clashes
Traditionally, the Formula 1 season begins in Australia due to the timing of Ramadan. In 2023, the season follows suit, with races in Australia, China, and Japan taking precedence before the series heads to Bahrain on April 12 and Saudi Arabia on April 19 - although keep in mind that Ramadan falls between February 16 and March 18 in 2023.
New on the Block
The racing calendar of 2023 welcomes Madrid as a new addition. The Spanish capital will play host to an exciting city race at the exhibition grounds on September 13. Spain already boasts two races in 2023, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosting a race in mid-June. Monaco is set to be the season opener in Europe, a week before Spain takes the wheel. Unfortunately, Germany won't feature on the racing calendar, despite the Audi works team's arrival for the 2023 season.
The Exciting Finale
The season will conclude, as always, at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 6. The Italian Imola race is no longer on the Formula 1 calendar for 2023.
- Madrid
- Formula 1
- Ramadan
- Bahrain
- Australia
- Monaco
- Barcelona
- Abu Dhabi
Behind the Scenes
Though the 2023 Formula 1 schedule didn't feature explicitly stated provisions regarding Ramadan, it shifted the traditional early-season slots for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to avoid holding races during the fasting month, respecting the local culture and attentive to the needs of the event staff and fans in these countries. While most analysis and reporting tend to focus on later seasons, such as 2026, this happens to be a defining practice for the F1 calendar.
For the 2026 season, there are several notable changes and accommodations in the works:
- Ramadan Accommodation: The new season kicks off in Australia due to Ramadan taking place in February–March, pushing the Middle Eastern races (Bahrain and Saudi Arabia) into April.
- Calendar Expansion and Rotation: The 2026 season will host 24 races, an ongoing limit due to logistical and personnel constraints. New venues like Madrid will replace older circuits, with Barcelona hosting a race under a new name before giving up the Spanish Grand Prix title to Madrid.
- Madrid Debut: Madrid will make its F1 debut in 2026, taking the reins from the more conventional Barcelona race as the Spanish Grand Prix host.
- Other Regional Logistics: Speculation is rife about Saudi Arabia potentially hosting a second race in the future, at the Qiddiya City track. However, this may be scheduled towards the end of the season to ensure logistics are streamlined with other Gulf region races, avoiding interference with Ramadan.
The Formula 1 schedule for 2023, though not explicitly stated, has made a deliberate effort to avoid holding races during Ramadan, with the Australian Grand Prix opening the season instead of the initially expected Bahrain race.
In the future, for the 2026 season, Madrid will make its Formula 1 debut as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix, with notable changes and accommodations to respect the local culture, including scheduling races around Ramadan.
