TV News: ESPN Kicks Off 2023 F1 Season This Week with Expanded Coverage, New Content (Update)
A ESPN PR tweet on what added F1 coverage the network has in store for 2023.
#F1 is back! 🏁@SportsCenter anchor @RB_Mrs shares what fans need to know about ESPN’s expanded Formula 1 coverage available this season pic.twitter.com/MzAtdT640Y
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) March 1, 2023
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February 28, 2023- Monaco Grand Prix to Air Live on ABC for First Time; 18 Races on ABC or ESPN – Most Ever
- Simulcasts on ESPN+ Presenting More Viewing Options; Commercial-Free Race Telecasts Continuing
- SportsCenter to Have F1 Coverage Before, After Every Event
As a new season of Formula 1 racing launches this weekend from Bahrain, ESPN kicks off its new, three-year renewal with F1 that will bring new content and expanded viewing options for American F1 fans all season across ESPN platforms.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will air on Sunday, March 5, at 9:55 a.m. ET on ESPN, also streaming on ESPN+.
Coming off of the record-setting 2022 season that saw F1 have its most-viewed year ever on U.S. television, ESPN platforms will again air all 23 races in the championship, with 18 of the 23 airing on ABC or ESPN. The other five will air on ESPN2.
All race telecasts will continue the commercial-free presentation used over the past five seasons, a format that has set ESPN’s coverage apart and proved very popular with viewers
New elements for this season:
- One of the marquee events of F1, the Monaco Grand Prix, will air live on ABC for the first time. The races in Miami, Canada, Mexico and the Lenovo U.S. Grand Prix in Austin also will air on ABC.
- Thirteen races will air on ESPN, the most ever.
- For the first time in history, the F1 season will include three races in the U.S., with the inaugural Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix running in November.
- Fans will have more ways to consume F1 content as ESPN+ will simulcast 18 of this season’s 23 races live – including the season opener, finale, all three U.S. events, the iconic Monaco Grand Prix and more – in both English and Spanish.
- Coverage of F1 qualifying (including the F1 Sprint) will have an increased focus in 2023 with most sessions airing on ESPN or ESPN2.
- Following what was done for the races in Miami and Austin last year, ESPN will produce an expanded number of preview and review shows in 2023 that will air live on ESPN social media and digital channels on race days. The first 2023 edition of the ESPN Post-Race Show airs at noon ET on Sunday following the conclusion of the Bahrain Grand Prix on ESPN3, the ESPN App, ESPN Twitter, ESPN Facebook and ESPN YouTube.
- With the new agreement including expanded direct-to-consumer rights, ESPN also has the flexibility to roll out additional content over the next three years, with more to be announced later.
- ESPN’s signature news and information program SportsCenter will have F1 coverage before and after all 23 races, including continued expansive coverage from U.S. races.
All race weekends will continue to include live telecasts of all three practice sessions.
As it has since F1 returned in 2018, ESPN is again teaming with Sky Sports and Formula 1 to bring Sky Sports’ award-winning presentation of F1 racing to American viewers.
ESPN Deportes continues as the exclusive Spanish-language television outlet for F1 in the U.S.
ESPN’s coverage of F1 also includes a dedicated site that reports on the championship year-round, with reporters on-site at every race. ESPN’s F1 reporters also contribute to the video podcast program Unlapped, which appears year-round on the ESPN YouTube channel. Also connected with the ESPN.com/F1 website are social handles @ESPNF1 on Twitter, @ESPNF1 on Instagram and ESPNF1 on Facebook.
The 2022 season averaged 1.21 million viewers per race across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, a 28 percent increase over the previous U.S. television record of 949,000 average viewers that was set in 2021. The 2022 season also became the first in U.S. television history to average 1 million or more viewers per race.
In addition, more female and younger viewers watched F1 races on U.S. television than ever before.
F1 returned to its original U.S. television home in 2018 – the first race ever aired in the country was on ABC in 1962. F1 races also aired on ESPN from 1984-1997.
ESPN F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Spot
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on ESPN Platforms
Session/Program Date Time (ET) Platform Practice 1 Friday, March 3 6:25 a.m. ESPN2 Practice 2 9:55 a.m. ESPN2 F1 Show Noon ESPN3 Practice 3 Saturday, March 4 6:25 a.m. ESPN2 Qualifying 9:55 a.m. ESPN2 Ted’s Qualifying Notebook 11:45 a.m. ESPN3 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, March 5 8:30 a.m. ESPN, ESPN+ Race 9:55 a.m. ESPN, ESPN+ Checkered Flag Noon ESPN3 ESPN Post-Race Show Noon ESPN3, ESPN App, ESPN Twitter, ESPN Facebook, ESPN YouTube Ted’s Race Notebook 1 p.m. ESPN3 Race (encore) 10:30 p.m. ESPNEWS Race (encore) Monday, March 6 7:30 a.m. ESPNEWS All races, qualifying and practice sessions also will stream live on the ESPN App and will be available for on-demand viewing.
F1 2023 TV Schedule for all 23 Races
Race No. Race Session/Program Date Start Time Network 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, March 3, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, March 3, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 F1 Show Friday, March 3, 2023 12pm ESPN3 Practice 3 Saturday, March 4, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, March 4, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 Ted’s Qualifying Notebook Saturday, March 4, 2023 11:45am ESPN3 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, March 5, 2023 8:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, March 5, 2023 9:55am ESPN, ESPN+ Checkered Flag Sunday, March 5, 2023 12pm ESPN3 Ted’s Race Notebook Sunday, March 5, 2023 1pm ESPN3 2 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, March 17, 2023 9:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, March 17, 2023 12:55pm ESPNEWS Practice 3 Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, March 18, 2023 12:55pm ESPNEWS Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, March 19, 2023 11:30am ESPN Race Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:55pm ESPN 3 Rolex Australian Grand Prix Practice 1 Thursday, March 30, 2023 9:25pm ESPNEWS Practice 2 Friday, March 31, 2023 12:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Friday, March 31, 2023 9:25pm ESPNEWS/ESPNU Qualifying Saturday, April 1, 2023 12:55am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Saturday, April 1, 2023 11:30pm ESPN2 Race Sunday, April 2, 2023 12:55am ESPN 4 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, April 28, 2023 5:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Friday, April 28, 2023 8:55am ESPNU Practice 2 Saturday, April 29, 2023 5:25am ESPN2 Sprint Saturday, April 29, 2023 9:25am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, April 30, 2023 5:30am ESPN Race Sunday, April 30, 2023 6:55am ESPN 5 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, May 5, 2023 1:25pm ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, May 5, 2023 4:55pm ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, May 6, 2023 12:25pm ESPN Qualifying Saturday, May 6, 2023 3:55pm ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, May 7, 2023 2:00pm ABC, ESPN+ Race Sunday, May 7, 2023 3:25pm ABC, ESPN+ 6 Made in Italy Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, May 19, 2023 7:25am ESPNU Practice 2 Friday, May 19, 2023 10:55am ESPNU Practice 3 Saturday, May 20, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, May 20, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, May 21, 2023 7:30am ESPN2, ESPN+ Race Sunday, May 21, 2023 8:55am ESPN2, ESPN+ 7 Monaco Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, May 26, 2023 7:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, May 26, 2023 10:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, May 27, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, May 27, 2023 9:55am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, May 28, 2023 7:30am ABC, ESPN+ Race Sunday, May 28, 2023 8:55am 8 AWS Spanish Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, June 2, 2023 7:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, June 2, 2023 10:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, June 3, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, June 3, 2023 9:55am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, June 4, 2023 7:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, June 4, 2023 8:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 9 Pirelli Canadian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, June 16, 2023 1:25pm ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, June 16, 2023 4:55pm ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, June 17, 2023 12:25pm ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, June 17, 2023 3:55pm ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, June 18, 2023 12:30pm ABC, ESPN+ Race Sunday, June 18, 2023 1:55pm 10 Austrian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, June 30, 2023 7:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Friday, June 30, 2023 10:55am ESPN2 Practice 2 Saturday, July 1, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Sprint Saturday, July 1, 2023 10:25am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, July 2, 2023 7:30am ESPN Race Sunday, July 2, 2023 8:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 11 Aramco British Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, July 7, 2023 7:25am ESPNU Practice 2 Friday, July 7, 2023 10:55am ESPNU Practice 3 Saturday, July 8, 2023 6:25am ESPNU Qualifying Saturday, July 8, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, July 9, 2023 8:30am ESPN2, ESPN+ Race Sunday, July 9, 2023 9:55am ESPN2, ESPN+ 12 Hungarian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, July 21, 2023 7:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, July 21, 2023 10:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, July 22, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, July 22, 2023 9:55am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, July 23, 2023 7:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, July 23, 2023 8:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 13 Belgian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, July 28, 2023 7:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Friday, July 28, 2023 10:55am ESPN2 Practice 2 Saturday, July 29, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Sprint Saturday, July 29, 2023 10:25am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, July 30, 2023 7:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, July 30, 2023 8:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 14 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, August 25, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, August 25, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, August 26, 2023 5:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, August 26, 2023 8:55am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, August 27, 2023 7:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, August 27, 2023 8:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 15 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, September 1, 2023 7:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, September 1, 2023 10:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, September 2, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, September 2, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, September 3, 2023 7:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, September 3, 2023 8:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 16 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, September 15, 2023 5:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, September 15, 2023 8:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, September 16, 2023 5:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, September 16, 2023 8:55am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, September 17, 2023 6:30am ESPN Race Sunday, September 17, 2023 7:55am ESPN 17 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix Practice 1 Thursday, September 21, 2023 10:25pm ESPNEWS Practice 2 Friday, September 22, 2023 1:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Friday, September 22, 2023 10:25pm ESPNU Qualifying Saturday, September 23, 2023 1:55am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Saturday, September 23, 2023 11:30pm ESPNEWS Race Sunday, September 24, 2023 12:55am ESPN2 18 Qatar Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, October 6, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Friday, October 6, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 Practice 2 Saturday, October 7, 2023 6:25am ESPN2 Sprint Saturday, October 7, 2023 10:25am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, October 8, 2023 8:30am ESPN2 Race Sunday, October 8, 2023 9:55am ESPN2 19 Lenovo United States Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, October 20, 2023 1:25pm ESPN2 Qualifying Friday, October 20, 2023 4:55pm ESPN2 Practice 2 Saturday, October 21, 2023 1:55pm ESPNEWS Sprint Saturday, October 21, 2023 5:55pm ESPNEWS Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, October 22, 2023 1:30pm ABC, ESPN+ Race Sunday, October 22, 2023 2:55pm 20 Mexican Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, October 27, 2023 2:25pm ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, October 27, 2023 5:55pm ESPNU Practice 3 Saturday, October 28, 2023 1:25pm ESPNEWS Qualifying Saturday, October 28, 2023 4:55pm ESPNEWS Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, October 29, 2023 2:30pm ABC, ESPN+ Race Sunday, October 29, 2023 3:55pm 21 Rolex Brazilian Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, November 3, 2023 9:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Friday, November 3, 2023 12:55pm ESPN2 Practice 2 Saturday, November 4, 2023 9:25am ESPNEWS Sprint Saturday, November 4, 2023 1:25pm ESPNEWS Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, November 5, 2023 10:30am ESPNEWS, ESPN+ Race Sunday, November 5, 2023 11:55am ESPN2, ESPN+ 22 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix Practice 1 Thursday, November 16, 2023 11:25pm ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, November 17, 2023 2:55am ESPN Practice 3 Friday, November 17, 2023 11:25pm ESPNU/ESPNEWS Qualifying Saturday, November 18, 2023 2:55am ESPN Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Saturday, November 18, 2023 11:30pm ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, November 19, 2023 12:55am ESPN, ESPN+ 23 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 1 Friday, November 24, 2023 4:25am ESPN2 Practice 2 Friday, November 24, 2023 7:55am ESPN2 Practice 3 Saturday, November 25, 2023 5:25am ESPN2 Qualifying Saturday, November 25, 2023 8:55am ESPN2 Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race) Sunday, November 26, 2023 6:30am ESPN, ESPN+ Race Sunday, November 26, 2023 7:55am ESPN, ESPN+