F1 Academy 2023 calendar and format revealed

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Formula 1 has released the calendar and format for its inaugural all-female F1 Academy season, a series that will a total of seven rounds, one of which will take place at the US Grand Prix in Austin.

The Formula 4-level series, which will feature a fifteen-car grid in 2023, has been created to help develop young female drivers for the upper echelons of international single-seater racing.

An official pre-season test session will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 11-12 April, but the field will enjoy an additional 13 days of testing spread out through the season.

Read also: Five teams sign up for all-female F1 Academy 2023

The action will kick off in earnest in Austria on 28-29 April, with drivers visiting Valencia, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Monza, Le Castellet and finally Austin in October where the F1 Academy will feature on F1's support bill at The Circuit of the Americas.

However, each round will feature three races. The weekend format will include two free practice sessions of 40 minutes each, and two 15-minute qualifying sessions.

The first session will set the grid for the first race, while the second will set the grid for the third race. To spice things up, the grid for the second race will be set by reversing the top eight finishers of the first qualifying session.

The series is still in the process of announcing its field of drivers that will join the five teams taking part in the series. ART Grand Prix, Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and Prema Racing have all signed up for the championship.

The series' Tatuus T421 chassis will be powered by a 165hp Autotecnica engines and will run on Pirelli tyres.

F1 Academy 2023 calendar

1. 28–29 April Spielberg, Austria
2. 05–07 May Valencia, Spain
3. 19–21 May Barcelona, Spain
4. 23–25 June Zandvoort, Netherlands
5. 07–09 July Monza, Italy
6. 29–30 July Le Castellet, France
7. 20–22 October Austin, USA

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.