24h of Le Mans | F1 avoids coinciding with the 2023 Centenary

Finally, it is appropriate to say it. In 2023 there will be no concomitance between a Formula 1 Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The FIA ​​World Council yesterday published the dates of the calendar for the next season of the circus, which rises to 24 appointments in total.

More and more wide-ranging commitments for what is considered the top motorsport series, which in recent years had not had many problems in trying to avoid overlapping with other important races.

Among these recently there was precisely Le Mans, which in the past received a special attention from the International Federation, which undertook not to let other races and events of its panorama be held, focusing attention on the classic French endurance, considered among the most prestigious races of all time, if not the greatest.

This thing has been missing lately, due to the decrease in interest and importance that the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship has suffered, especially in relation to a Formula 1 that reigns supreme and which for its part is expanding more and more, obviously finding more difficulty in not having concomitants.

But on 10-11 June next year the 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates the centenary of its first race held on the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1923 (also preparing a dedicated trophy) and, taking into account the championship’s comeback thanks to the new Hypercar and LMDh regulations, the FIA ​​has been concerned not to have the problem of an F1 GP on the same weekend.

“F1 has released its 2023 calendar and all endurance fans are very happy to see that there will be no Grand Prix on the weekend of the 24h of Le Mans,” said Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l ‘ Ouest, organizer of the race.

“Next June we will celebrate the Centenary, for which I would like to sincerely thank the FIA, its President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and the management of F1 for making this important decision.”

This choice will once again open up the possibility of seeing an F1 driver at Le Mans. For example, in 2015 it was Nico Hülkenberg who took advantage of it even managing to win with the Porsche LMP1, while Fernando Alonso followed him with Toyota a couple of years later.