Has there been an F1 Grand Prix in December before?

It's the middle of December, and the 2023 Formula 1 winter break is in full swing. However, F1 has a history of completing Grands Prix in December, including perhaps the most famous race ever. Here is a list of all the races in December.

The most famous of them all

Certainly one of the most anticipated Grands Prix of all time, and one that will always be remembered: The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This event took place on December 12 and was won by Max Verstappen. He claimed his first Formula 1 World Championship title on that controversial day.

In 2021, the sport was still catching up from the coronavirus pandemic, which meant a slightly later finish than usual. A week earlier, the F1 circus raced in Saudi Arabia for the first time. This took place on December 5, with Lewis Hamilton claiming the win. It put Verstappen and Hamilton equal points going into the aforementioned decider.

Again, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Formula 1 season started in July. With 17 races planned, a late finish was always inevitable. The final two races of the 2020 season were also held in December. Hamilton and Mercedes had the title wrapped up a long time before, so they weren't too upset to see Sergio Perez win the Sakhir Grand Prix for Racing Point. Perez ran in last place on the opening lap of the race. It was a chaotic race. In fact, Esteban Ocon [Renault] joined both Racing Point drivers on the podium as Lance Stroll finished third.

The F1 circus headed to Abu Dhabi on December 13. Verstappen surprisingly won the race, which created a foreshadow for the 2021 season. The 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also squeezed into December. Hamilton won the race on December 1, concluding another World Championship-winning season for the Brit.

Another title decider in December

Ironically, it was on the same date as the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On December 12 1959, the United States Grand Prix took place. Sir Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham were fighting for the World Championship. On lap five, Moss had a gearbox issue and had to retire. Brabham went on to finish fourth and claim three World Championship points. Brabham became World Champion for the very first time. He went on to win again in 1960 and 1966.

What was the latest Grand Prix in a calendar year?

In 1963, Formula 1 visited Africa for the South African Grand Prix. The sport hadn't raced for two months and concluded the season on December 28. Jim Clark already had the title wrapped up, and he added another victory in South Africa.

The F1 schedule was the same in 1962, with a visit to South Africa. The sport hadn't seen action since October 7. They had to wait over two months, until December 29, for the title decider. Graham Hill won the Grand Prix and secured the title in the process. His rival, Clark, had an oil leak on lap 62.

Will Formula 1 race again in December?

With an ever-expanding calendar, it almost seems inevitable that Formula 1 will need to utilise December for races. Though it's unlikely they will drag on as far as December 29 during the Christmas/New Year period.

In 2024, the sport will attempt a record again. There are 24 stops on the F1 calendar, including two December races. Both are part of a triple header, with Las Vegas starting things off on November 23. F1 will travel to Qatar on December 1. Welcome news to drivers and teams because it should be cooler at that time of year. The season finale takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 8.