It's lights out on the 2023 Formula 1 world championship.
After a banger of a schedule in 2021, the 2022 season was short on drama as Red Bull's Max Verstappen sleepwalked to his second world driver championship. Red Bull was on the charge all through 2022, winning 17 of 22 races and crushing the constructors field.
The rest of the grid made for interesting storylines, however.
Mercedes had difficulties navigating the new rigs, while Ferrari faded away after a hot start. It was a sad sendoff for Sebastian Vettel, who finished with 37 points and no podiums in his final year in an F1 car. Daniel Ricciardo's disappointing stint with McLaren led to Ricciardo's departure from the team, as his contract was terminated early.
Entering 2023, Red Bull still looks like the team to beat, with preseason testing indicating they may have the quickest car on the track once again. Hype around Ferrari and Aston Martin continues, with the race for the best of the rest perhaps the most intriguing story of the season.
MORE: Watch the Bahrain Grand Prix live with fuboTV (free trial)
Away we go in 2023. Here's how to watch the first race weekend of the F1 season:
What channel is the F1 race on today?
- Race: Bahrain Grand Prix
- Date: Sunday, March 5
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, fuboTV
The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2023 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' broadcast, with select races airing on ABC. Viewers can also stream Formula 1 races live in the U.S. with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
ESPN Deportes is the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2023 F1 races in the U.S.
What time does the F1 race start today?
- Date: Sunday, March 5
- Start time: 10 a.m. ET
The 10 a.m. ET start time for Sunday's race means the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. local time. Lights out will likely take place just after 10 a.m. ET. ESPN's prerace show typically airs in the hour before the start of the race.
Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the Bahrain Grand Prix. All times are Eastern.
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 3 | Practice 1 | 6:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Friday, March 3 | Practice 2 | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, March 4 | Practice 3 | 6:30 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, March 4 | Qualifying | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, March 5 | Race | 10 a.m. | ESPN |
Formula 1 live stream for Bahrain Grand Prix
For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, five major OTT (over the top) TV streaming services carry the ESPN networks — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and DirecTV Stream.
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but won't be in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2023 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.
Formula 1 schedule 2023
The 2023 Formula 1 schedule heading into the first race of the season features 23 total races, with the season beginning on March 5 in Bahrain and ending in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 26.
This year, the United States expansion continues. F1 plans for three races on American soil, with the Las Vegas Grand Prix joining the United States and Miami races.
Here's the complete Sunday race schedule for 2023:
| Date | Race | Track | Start time (ET) | TV channel | Winner (Team) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 5 | Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 10 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| March 19 | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Street Circuit | 1 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| April 2 | Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 1 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| April 30 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 7 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| May 7 | Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | 2:30 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| May 21 | Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Imola Circuit | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| May 28 | Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| June 4 | Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| June 18 | Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gillies-Villenueve | 2 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 2 | Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 9 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 10 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 23 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 30 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| August 27 | Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 3 | Italian Grand Prix | Monza Circuit | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 17 | Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 8 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 24 | Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 1 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 8 | Qatar Grand Prix | Lusail International Circuit | 1 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 22 | United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 3 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 29 | Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 4 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 5 | Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos Circuit | 12 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 18 | Las Vegas Grand Prix | Las Vegas Street Circuit | 1 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 26 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 8 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
How to watch Formula 1 in Canada
- TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French)
- Live stream: TSN Direct
For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English-language race telecast while RDS will have the French-language broadcast.
Races can also be streamed via TSN's streaming service, TSN Direct.
