Manama : The very best of single-seater motor racing will be on show all throughout the weekend at the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, taking place 3 to 5 March at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
The sport’s top flight will be the biggest attraction, but also hitting the track at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” will be its two chief feeder-series: the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the FIA Formula 3 Championship each featuring F1’s stars of the future.
Both F2 and F3 will be kicking off their respective 2023 calendars at BIC in support of F1. They will ensure non-stop racing over the three-day extravaganza in a packed timetable along with the Bahrain-based Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East.
Prior to their season starts, F2 and F3 will hold three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain from 14 to 16 February. Drivers from both series will be taking their cars out onto BIC’s 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix track for separate sessions on each day.
The tests are crucial for the teams and ace pilots, as it will be the only running they will have in preparation for their 2023 campaigns.
F2 and F3 will each hold two races during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, along with practices and qualifying. Both series’ Sprint Races will take place on the Saturday with the Feature Races to follow on Sunday, while practice and qualifying are scheduled for Friday.
The 2023 F2 season is set to feature 14 rounds, flagging off in Bahrain and concluding in November in Abu Dhabi.
This one-make junior series consists of 22 identical cars with 11 international teams, including defending champions MP Motorsport, Carlin, ART Grand Prix, Prema Racing, Hitech Grand Prix, Dams, Virtuosi Racing, PHM Racing by Charouz, Trident, Van Amersfoort Racing and Campos Racing.
F2 is the last rung on the ladder to F1, with many drivers who have graduated from F2 now starring in the top flight. Among them are Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, George Russell of Mercedes, Lando Norris of McLaren, Alexander Albon of Williams, Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri and Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo, along with the incoming Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Nyck De Vries of AlphaTauri.
Meanwhile, F3 is also a one-make category that is the official third rung of the “Road to F1”. Its 2023 championship consists of 10 rounds, beginning at BIC and ending in September in Monza.
There are 30 identical cars set for the grid forming 10 F3 teams, many of whom are also competing in F2. The field includes reigning teams’ champions Prema Racing, who will be going up against Trident, ART Grand Prix, MP Motorsport, Hitech Grand Prix, Van Amersfoort Racing, Carlin, Campos Racing, Jenzer Motorsport and PHM Racing by Charouz.
A number of the F2 and F3 talents are currently junior drivers with F1 teams, and they will be able to showcase their skills in front of a global audience that includes the F1 community they will be hoping to impress.
All these and much more can be enjoyed on the track at the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023.
Tickets to this year’s race weekend are selling fast and those looking to experience the pinnacle of motorsport must purchase their tickets at the soonest.
