Formula 1 has confirmed that the 2023 season will consist of 23 races, as they ruled out a replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The original schedule had been set for 24 events, with the race in Shanghai provisionally put down for April 16th. However, ongoing restrictions in China relating to COVID-19 meant it was not possible for F1 to go ahead with the race there.
The cancellation of the Chinese GP and with no race replacing it, it now leaves a big gap in the calendar between the Australian GP on April 2nd and the Azerbaijan GP on April 30th.
F1 did consider options to shift this around, either by moving the Azerbaijan race forward to separate it from being a back-to-back with Miami, or by finding a replacement.
However, Azerbaijan GP Chiefs were reluctant to move their event any earlier in the year because of concerns about poor weather in Baku.