Teams and drivers are preparing for what is set to be the longest season in Formula 1 history, with up to 24 grands prix slated on the calendar.
However, the 2024 season holds a unique distinction as it kicks off with two races scheduled on Saturdays: the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2nd and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on March 9th.
So, why does the 2024 F1 season commence on a Saturday?
The answer lies in Ramadan, which commences on Sunday, March 10th—the same day the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix was initially planned. To accommodate Ramadan, the race in Saudi Arabia has been rescheduled to the preceding Saturday night.
Consequently, the season opener in Bahrain also had to be moved up by a day in accordance with F1 regulations, which dictate a minimum week-long gap between races.
What’s the schedule for the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs?
With both races scheduled on Saturdays, the entire weekend’s timetable has been adjusted accordingly. The two one-hour free practice sessions will occur on Thursday, followed by the third free practice and qualifying sessions on Friday. Each race weekend dedicates its first day solely to the race itself.
Bahrain GP 2024 Schedule
Date Session US Start Time
- Thursday, February 29 First Free Practice 6:30 am ET
- Thursday, February 29 Second Free Practice 10:00 am ET
- Friday, March 1 Third Free Practice 7:30 am ET
- Friday, March 1 Qualifying 11:00 am ET
- Saturday, March 2 Grand Prix 10:00 am ET
- Saudi Arabian GP 2024 Schedule
Date Session US Start Time
- Thursday, March 7 First Free Practice 8:30 am ET
- Thursday, March 7 Second Free Practice 12:00 pm ET
- Friday, March 8 Third Free Practice 1:30 pm ET
- Friday, March 8 Qualifying 12:00 pm ET
- Saturday, March 9 Grand Prix 12:00 pm ET
More F1 races on Saturdays in 2024
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix are not the only races in 2024 set for a Saturday. The Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 24th is also scheduled on a Saturday due to the significant time difference with Europe.
By holding the race on a Saturday, occurring at 10 pm local time, it allows more F1 fans worldwide to tune in without the constraints of early Monday morning viewing in certain time zones.
When was the last time F1 raced on a Saturday?
While it’s not a common occurrence, Formula 1 has had races on days other than Sundays. Only 75 F1 races have taken place on non-Sunday days, with the most recent being the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023. Before that, the last Saturday race was 38 years ago at the 1985 South African Grand Prix.
