After the announcement that the new Las Vegas GP will be a night race, there will now be six F1 night races for the upcoming 2023 season.
F1 Night Races For The 2023 Season
Six of the 23 F1 races will be night races in the 2023 season. These are;
- Bahrain
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Qatar
- Las Vegas
- Abu Dhabi
Bahrain Grand Prix
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix Date: 5th March 2023
The Bahrain Grand Prix has been held since 2004, but it wasn’t until 2014 it turned into a night race to commemorate the Grand Prix’s tenth anniversary.
The 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix became the second race ever to be a night race after Singapore, which first came onto the calendar in 2008. From 2014 onwards, it’s been a night race ever since.
The Bahrain GP has been held at night since 2014 when it switched from a day race to a night race to celebrate its tenth anniversary.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Date: 19th March 2023
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, has been on the F1 calendar since 2021. The main reason for it being a night race is due to the high temperatures in the daytime. On top of the Saudi Arabian GP being a night race, it is also a street race.
Despite the high temperatures, two of the three practice sessions are held during the daytime, as well as the F2 race.
Singapore Grand Prix
Singapore Grand Prix Date: 17th September 2023
Singapore was the first-ever night race in Formula One all the way back in 2008, and it has stayed on the calendar ever since. The Marina Bay Street Circuit has become a favourite for drivers and race fans alike.
Whilst the inaugural night race was deemed a success, the 2008 Grand Prix will always be remembered for the controversial incident where Nelson Piquet crashed on purpose in order to trigger a safety car, which helped his teammate Fernando Alonso, who qualified in 15th, win the race.
Since the Singapore GP began in 2008, it’s been suggested that the race took place at night so it could be broadcast around lunchtime in the UK & Europe.
Qatar Grand Prix
Qatar Grand Prix Date: 8th October 2023
After taking a break from their F1 commitments in 2022, as the country prepared for the 2022 World Cup, the Qatar Grand Prix will be back for the 2023 season.
The Qatar Grand Prix first became a Formula One race in 2021, and came onto the race schedule as a night race. The first, and currently only winner of the Qatar Grand Prix, is Lewis Hamilton.
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Las Vegas Grand Prix Date: 18th November 2023
New to the F1 2023 calendar, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be the fourth night race of the 2023 F1 season. The race was announced back in March 2022, and it was also announced that it was going to be a night race at the same time.
Considering the circuit runs next to the world-famous bright lights of the Las Vegas strip, it’s no surprise this race was brought in as a night race. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will become the second race on the calendar to take place in the USA, after the sport’s booming popularity in the States.
The race will also take place on a Saturday, which is different from the normal race weekend format. It’s thought the race is on a Saturday as the start time is 10 pm local time.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Date: 26th November 2023
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which is the final race in the 2023 season, is the only F1 race to start in the daytime and end in the night time. This adds a unique mix to the race which is held at the Yas Marina circuit.
With it being the final race on the calendar, the GP has been home to some huge moments in F1, not least the final race of the 2022 season, which saw Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the World Championship on the last lap of the race.
