F1 Academy confirms seven-round calendar for 2023 season

The inaugural season of F1 Academy is complete and will have seven rounds and 21 races. Each venue will stage three races per weekend, with the finale supporting the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in October.

The season will kick off in Spielberg, Austria on April 28-29 before taking a trip to Spain for two race weekends. Firstly, Valencia stages Round 2 from May 5-7 followed by Barcelona on May 19-21. Zandvoort is up next as the Dutch circuit stages the following race weekend from June 23-25.

Italy is followed by France as Monza stages Round 5 from July 7-9 before a trip to Le Castellet for the penultimate race weekend of the season from 29-30 July.

As mentioned, the final race of the 2023 F1 Academy season will be a support event to the United States Grand Prix from October 20-22.

Drivers will get vital experience around famed European venues as well as a taste of the F1 race weekend, driving the Circuit of the Americas in front of a packed crowd in Austin, Texas. Alongside the confirmation of the ’23 calendar, the race weekend format has also been announced, with three races comprising a single weekend.

Two 40-minute Free Practice sessions will kick off the weekend and be followed by two Qualifying sessions of 15 minutes each. Qualifying 1 will set the grid for Race 1 while the second session will form the grid for Race 3. Drivers who earn pole position in either session will be awarded with two points. Race 2’s grid will reverse the top eight drivers from Qualifying 1.

Races 1 and 3 will each run for 30 minutes and offer the full points tally of 25 for victory. Race 2 will be a shorter, 20-minute race and award 10 points for the win. A single point will also be awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap in each race on the provision they finish inside the top 10.

“I’m very pleased to reveal the calendar of F1 Academy’s inaugural season,” said Bruno Michel, General Manager of the F1 Academy. “Our goal was to be able to race on as many Formula 1 Grand Prix tracks as possible, with circuits that could be a great challenge for the drivers. The teams know these layouts very well, so they will be able to help their young talents get to grips quickly.

“We had announced that F1 Academy would be racing alongside Formula 1 at one event, so it’s fantastic to be part of the F1 Grand Prix package in Austin, where we will also conclude the first season, in front of the F1 paddock and the American crowd.

"There is quite a gap in between Rounds 6 and 7, but that is mainly due to the fact that we will be sending the cars and equipment by ship, to save on logistical costs.

“Additionally, there will be 15 days of testing to add to the track time in 2023, with the first two days in Barcelona on April 11 and 12. We will reveal the rest of the dates in due time.”