Formula 1: 3 surprise tracks featured in F1 23 video game

The new F1 23 video game was officially released in mid-June. There are three tracks featured in the game which aren’t on this year’s Formula 1 schedule.

The new Formula 1 Electronic Arts (EA Sports) video game, F1 23, was officially released on Friday, June 16, marking the earliest release date in series history.

It is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC via the EA App, the Epic Games Store, and Steam for $69.99.

Every single one of the 23 tracks on the official 2023 Formula 1 calendar, including Imola Circuit, is included. The 21-turn, 3.05-mile (4.908-kilometer) road course in Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy was scheduled to host the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix back in May, but it was canceled due to flooding in the area, reducing this year’s schedule to 22 races.

There are also three other tracks included in F1 23 which aren’t on this year’s Formula 1 schedule, including one that was originally supposed to be.

Shanghai International Circuit, which was scheduled to host the Chinese Grand Prix back in April, is featured in the game. The race was canceled due to COVID-19-related restrictions for the fourth straight year. It is expected that the 16-turn, 3.388-mile (5.452-kilometer) road course in Jiading, Shanghai, China will return to the schedule for the first time since 2019 next year.

The other two are Circuit Paul Ricard and Algarve International Circuit.

The 15-turn, 3.63-mile (5.842-kilometer) road course in Le Castellet, France hosted the French Grand Prix from 2018 to 2022, sans 2020, and the 15-turn, 2.91-mile (4.683-kilometer) road course in Portimao, Algarve, Portugal hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 and 2021 because so many other events were called off due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

As for the 23 tracks in the game that are actually on the calendar, two of them are new to the franchise. They are Lusail International Circuit and the new Las Vegas street course.

The 16-turn, 3.343-mile (5.381-kilometer) road course in Lusail, Al Daayen, Qatar was added to the schedule as the host of the Qatar Grand Prix for the first time in 2021, again because quite a few other events were called off due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

It didn’t return in 2022 due to Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup, but it signed a 10-year deal to return to the schedule beginning in October 2023.

The 14-turn, 3.8-mile (6.116-kilometer) temporary Las Vegas, Nevada street circuit, featuring the Las Vegas Strip, is scheduled to host its first ever Las Vegas Grand Prix this November.