F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Qatar Grand Prix?

F1 heads back to Qatar and the Lusail International Circuit, with Max Verstappen on the cusp of clinching the title

Max Verstappen is on the verge of securing his third straight world championship as Formula 1 returns to Qatar.

The Dutchman only needs three more points to clinch the 2023 title, meaning he only needs to finish sixth or higher during the Saturday sprint race in order to seal his crown. Verstappen was back to his usual ruthless best last time out in Japan, after his first podium-less race of the season a week earlier in Singapore.

• COMMENT: The rise of Oscar Piastri - a genuine contender for Lando Norris at last

Sergio Perez endured a weekend to forget in Suzuka, while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured a memorable double podium for McLaren. Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and is now just 33 points off Perez in the championship standings. Norris, meanwhile, has drawn level with George Russell in seventh place in the standings with six races to go - and three sprints - in 2023.

F1 raced in Qatar for the first time towards the end of the memorable 2021 season, when Hamilton came home in first place at the Lusail International Circuit. A race did not take place in 2022 as Qatar was focusing on hosting the FIFA World Cup. F1 has signed a 10-year deal from 2023 to host a race every year.

Here is everything you need to know.

When is the Qatar Grand Prix?

The next race weekend of the 2023 season, the Qatar Grand Prix, takes place from Friday 6 October – Sunday 8 October as F1 returns to the Lusail International Circuit.

The schedule is as follows: first practice takes place at 2:30pm (BST) on Friday before qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix at 6pm.

On Saturday, the sprint shootout which determines the grid for the sprint race takes place at 2pm before the sprint race itself at 6:30pm (BST).

The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday starts at 6pm (BST).

How can I watch it online and on TV?

The Qatar Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action at Lusail on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

F1 returns to Qatar for the first time since the inaugural race in 2021 at Lusail (Getty Images)

Driver Standings

1) Max Verstappen - 400 points

2) Sergio Perez - 223 points

3) Lewis Hamilton - 190 points

4) Fernando Alonso - 174 points

5) Carlos Sainz - 150 points

6) Charles Leclerc - 135 points

7) Lando Norris - 115 points

8) George Russell - 115 points

9) Oscar Piastri - 57 points

10) Lance Stroll - 47 points

11) Pierre Gasly - 46 points

12) Esteban Ocon - 38 points

13) Alex Albon - 21 points

14) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 6 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 3 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 3 points

19) Liam Lawson - 2 points

20) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

21) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

22) Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points

Constructors’ Championship

1) Red Bull - 623 points

2) Mercedes - 305 points

3) Ferrari - 285 points

4) Aston Martin - 221 points

5) McLaren - 172 points

6) Alpine - 84 points

7) Williams - 21 points

8) Haas - 12 points

9) Alfa Romeo - 10 points

10) AlphaTauri - 5 points

What is the 2023 F1 calendar?

ROUND 18 - QATAR (sprint weekend)

Lusail International Circuit, Lusail - 6-8 October

ROUND 19 - UNITED STATES (sprint weekend)

Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 20-22 October

ROUND 20 - MEXICO

Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 27-29 October

ROUND 21 - BRAZIL (sprint weekend)

Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 3-5 November

ROUND 22 - LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas Street Circuit - 16-18 November

ROUND 23 - ABU DHABI

Yas Marina Circuit - 24-26 November