How long do F1 races last? Duration and number of rounds explained
One thing is for sure: Formula 1 will be full of drama, excitement and controversy over the course of the 2023 season.
The ten teams and twenty drivers fly around the world – from Silverstone to Melbourne – and visit some of the most beautiful circuits in the world.
But how long does a Grand Prix race last, measured by the number of laps, total distance and race time?
Let’s crunch the numbers.
How long is an F1 race?
According to F1 regulations, races must be at least 305 km (190 miles).
Therefore, the number of laps for each race is calculated according to how many laps it takes to pass the magic number.
For example, the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium has a total lap distance of 7km, meaning that it takes 43.5 laps to reach the required 305km.
And since it’s impossible to do half a lap, the Belgian Grand Prix is held every year with 44 laps.
The only exception is Monaco, which has a total of 260 km (162 miles) around the principality’s roads.
How many laps does each F1 race have?
As the length of each circuit on the calendar is different, the number of laps in each Grand Prix will also change.
Number of laps in each F1 Grand Prix
- Spa FrancorchampsBelgium – 44 laps
- Jeddah CornicheSaudi Arabia – 50 rounds
- Las VegasUSA – 50 rounds
- Baku city circuitAzerbaijan – 51 rounds
- silverstoneGreat Britain – 52 rounds
- MonzaItaly – 53 laps
- suzukaJapan – 53 rounds
- Tour of AmericaUSA – 56 rounds
- sakhirBahrain – 57 laps
- Miami autodromeUSA – 57 rounds
- LusailQatar – 57 rounds
- Albert parkAustralia – 58 rounds
- Yes marinaAbu Dhabi – 58 laps
- marina bay Street circuitSingapore – 61 laps
- ImolaEmilia Romagna – 63 laps
- circuit en Barcelona-CataloniaSpain – 66 rounds
- circuit Giles VilleneuveCanada – 70 rounds
- HungaryHungary – 70 rounds
- Red bull ringAustria – 71 rounds
- Autodromo hermanos RodriguezMexico – 71 rounds
- intermediate lagosSao Paulo GP – 71 laps
- ZandvoortNetherlands – 72 rounds
- circuit en MonacoMonaco – 78 laps
How long do F1 races last?
As a general rule of thumb: The races last about 90 minutes.
Races must be completed within a two hour window, however this may be extended to three hours at the discretion of the race stewards.
Of course, this will vary somewhat as the average speed per lap differs across the 23 venues on the seasonal calendar.
The Italian Grand Prix is usually the shortest race of the year at around 70 minutes due to high average speeds, while Singapore’s narrow and winding Marina Bay often surpasses the two-hour mark.
The shortest race in F1 history was the rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix in 2021, lasting just three laps and three minutes and 27 seconds.
The longest Grand Prix was the epic Canadian Grand Prix in 2011, which lasted four hours and four minutes when there were no rules on maximum race times.
MORE : How to watch the 2023 F1 season on TV and live stream in the UK
MORE : Why are F1 drivers weighed before and after races?
Follow Metro on our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
