All the F1 2022 dates: Pre-season testing, calendar and car launches
2022 F1 pre-season testing
One of the biggest changes in technical rules is coming to F1 this season with the introduction of a brand new car set to take the world championship into a new era.
It is hoped that the package of all-new rules for 2022, including a stricter budget cap, will help level the playing field and produce cars that are more raceable on track to create more overtaking and excitement.
Teams have been working on their designs for the best part of two years after the rules were postponed by a year for implementation in 2022 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
To give the teams and drivers as much time as possible to run their cars in anger ahead of the new campaign, there will be a total of six days of pre-season running split across two separate tests.
F1’s new-generation car will make its official on-track debut during the first three-day test between February 23-25 at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya in Spain.
Following that, F1 will head to the Middle East for a further three days of running in Bahrain on March 10-12, ahead of the season-opener in Sakhir on March 20.
| 2022 Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing | |
| Test 1 | Date |
| Spain (Barcelona) | February 23-25 |
| TEST 2 | |
| Bahrain (Sakhir) | March 10-12 |
2022 F1 race calendar
Following on from a hectic 22-race schedule last year, things are going to get even busier this season with F1 set to embark on a record-breaking 23-round campaign in 2022.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a complete re-write of the 2020 calendar and also resulted in a rejigged 2021 campaign. F1 remains wary that 2022 could also be affected, but has demonstrated its flexibility and adaptability over the past 18 months.
While the threat of disruption due to COVID-19 still lingers, F1 is hopeful it can run its 2022 season as planned.
F1’s largest-ever calendar will see the first-ever Miami Grand Prix take place in Florida at the start of May, while the Australian, Canadian, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix are all slated to return to the schedule after a two-year absence.
As it did in 2021, Bahrain will once again get the honour of kick-starting the new F1 season, which will close with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 20.
The jam-packed calendar will see 23 races held across eight months, including back-to-back triple-headers and six sprint events.
| 2022 Formula 1 Race Calendar | ||
| Round | Race | Date |
| 1 | Bahrain GP (Sakhir) | March 20 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabian GP (Jeddah) | March 27 |
| 3 | Austrialian GP (Melbourne) | April 10 |
| 4 | Emilia Romagna GP (Imola) | April 24 |
| 5 | Miami GP (Miami) | May 8 |
| 6 | Spanish GP (Barcelona) | May 22 |
| 7 | Monaco GP (Monaco) | May 29 |
| 8 | Azerbaijan GP (Baku) | June 12 |
| 9 | Canadian GP (Montreal) | June 19 |
| 10 | British GP (Silverstone) | July 3 |
| 11 | Austrian GP (Spielberg) | July 10 |
| 12 | French GP (Le Castellet) | July 24 |
| 13 | Hungarian GP (Budapest) | July 31 |
| 14 | Belgian GP (Spa) | August 28 |
| 15 | Dutch GP (Zandvoort) | September 4 |
| 16 | Italian GP (Monza) | September 11 |
| 17 | Russian GP (Sochi) | September 25 |
| 18 | Singapore GP (Marina Bay) | October 2 |
| 19 | Japanese GP (Suzuka) | October 9 |
| 20 | United States GP (Austin) | October 23 |
| 21 | Mexico City GP (Mexico City) | October 30 |
| 22 | Sao Paulo GP (Interlagos) | November 13 |
| 23 | Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina) | November 20 |
2022 F1 car launch dates
Aston Martin was the first team to confirm its launch plans for its 2022 car. The Silverstone-based outfit will unveil its AMR22 challenger on February 10.
McLaren will reveal its MCL36 at a presentation the following day on February 11 at 7pm GMT, while Ferrari will launch its 2022 F1 challenger on February 17.
Mercedes' 2022 challenger will be unveiled in a "special digital launch" on February 18 before taking to the track at Silverstone for a shakedown test later that day.
AlphaTauri will take the covers off its AT03 2022 F1 car on February 14.
Alpine will launch its A521 car just two days before winter testing in Barcelona on February 21.
Alfa Romeo will officially launch its 2022 car after the Barcelona test on February 27. The C42 will have an interim livery during its running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
On the same day, Haas confirmed it will reveal its 2022 livery on February 4, while Red Bull announced it will be launching its 2022 RB18 F1 car on February 9.
Williams is the final F1 team to announce its plans with the FW44 launching on February 15.
| 2022 Formula 1 Car/livery Launches | |
| Team | Date |
| Haas | February 4 |
| Red Bull | February 9 |
| Aston Martin | February 10 |
| McLaren | February 11 |
| AlphaTauri | February 14 |
| Williams | February 15 |
| Ferrari | February 17 |
| Mercedes | February 18 |
| Alpine | February 21 |
| Alfa Romeo | February 27 |
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
