The event was held across the weekend of 17–19 March. It was the second round of the 2023 Formula One World Championship.
Going into the weekend, Max Verstappen led the World Drivers' Championship with 25 points. Sergio Pérez was second, 7 points behind Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso was third, 10 points behind Max Verstappen. Red Bull Racing led the Constructors' Championship from Aston Martin by 20 points and Mercedes by 27 points.
The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race.
Tyre supplier Pirelli brought the C2, C3, and C4 tyre compounds for teams to use at the event.
Turns 22 and 23 were tightened and the walls were moved back at several corners due to safety concerns. Kerbing was also altered to improve safety. Additionally, the third DRS detection point was moved farther ahead, being positioned on the exit of turn 27. As a result, the third DRS activation point was moved farther ahead, being positioned 170 metres (560 ft) after turn 27.
Three free practice sessions were held prior to qualifying. The first practice session ended with Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen setting the fastest time ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso. Lance Stroll and Mercedes' George Russell capped off the top five. The second practice session saw Fernando Alonso split the Red Bull pairing of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, ahead of Esteban Ocon and George Russell. The third and final practice session ended with Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez on top again ahead of the Aston Martin pairing, with Lewis Hamilton completing the top five.
Qualifying was held on 18 March 2023, starting at 20:00 local time (UTC+3).
The first segment ended with Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon, Nyck de Vries, Lando Norris and Logan Sargeant setting the five slowest times, resulting in their elimination. Lando Norris broke the front-left suspension of his car through hitting a wall. Logan Sargeant failed to set a lap time within 107% of the fastest Q1 time, but was permitted to race by the stewards.
During the second segment, Max Verstappen's car suddenly slowed down due to a driveshaft failure, preventing him from taking part in qualifying any further and leaving him in fifteenth place. Nico Hülkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were eliminated alongside him.
During the final segment, Sergio Pérez set the fastest time, taking his second career pole position. Charles Leclerc set the second fastest time, but took a ten-place grid penalty. Fernando Alonso set the third fastest time ahead of Mercedes' George Russell. Carlos Sainz Jr. posted the fifth time ahead of Lance Stroll and Alpine's Esteban Ocon. Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly completed the top ten.
The race was held on 19 March 2023, starting at 20:00 local time (UTC+3).
Fernando Alonso took the lead at the start but was soon handed a five-second penalty. Sergio Pérez passed Fernando Alonso for the lead after three laps. Max Verstappen recovered from his starting position, entering the top ten during lap eight. During lap seventeen, Lance Stroll stopped his car on track, and the safety car was deployed. This prompted drivers who had not yet made their regular tyre changes, including Sergio Pérez, Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, to pit. Fernando Alonso also served his five-second time penalty.
After the safety car, Sergio Pérez led from Fernando Alonso, with George Russell third and Max Verstappen fourth. Max Verstappen passed George Russell for third and then Fernando Alonso for second. Alexander Albon was forced to retire his Williams because of a brake failure during lap twenty-eight. Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen finished first and second, with Max Verstappen posting the fastest lap and taking the extra point to retain the championship lead. Fernando Alonso finished third, making him the sixth driver to have scored 100 podiums in his Formula One career.
Shortly after the podium ceremony, Fernando Alonso was handed a ten-second penalty for not having served the first penalty correctly, dropping him to fourth behind George Russell. Aston Martin requested a review, and the stewards decided to rescind the penalty and reinstate Fernando Alonso's third place. The FIA clarified the matter before the next round of the championship, stating that neither jacks, nor any other tools or mechanics can touch the car when a driver serves their penalty at a pit stop.
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