Motor racing’s prestigious Formula 1 (F1) series has today (July 5) unveiled a record 24-race calendar for the 2024 season.
The next campaign will be the longest calendar in the sport’s history, beginning in Bahrain on March 2 and finishing more than 10 months later in Abu Dhabi on December 8.
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Among the notable changes, for the opening two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday to accommodate Ramadan. F1 races are traditionally held on a Sunday.
F1 has also announced key scheduling changes “to move towards greater calendar regionalization, reducing logistical burdens, and making the season more sustainable.”
The Japanese Grand Prix has been moved to April, while the race in Azerbaijan has been shifted to September and Qatar will be held as a back-to-back with Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, the British Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone on July 7 and again avoid a clash with tennis’ Wimbledon men’s singles final, and the concluding day of golf’s Open Championship.
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By GlobalDataThe Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai has also been included, with the country set to stage its first F1 race since 2019.
China was due to return to the calendar as part of a record 24-race season this year after a four-year absence but was canceled by F1 in December due to “ongoing difficulties” with the country’s strict Covid-19 policy.
F1 ultimately opted not to replace the Chinese Grand Prix and went with a 23-race schedule.
F1 stated: “This calendar creates a better flow of races in certain regions, and this work will continue while being realistic to the fact that as a world championship, with climatic and contractual constraints, there will always be travel required that cannot be completely regionalized.”
Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula 1, said: “There is huge interest and continued demand for Formula 1, and I believe this calendar strikes the right balance between traditional races and new and existing venues.
“Our journey to a more sustainable calendar will continue in the coming years as we further streamline operations as part of our Net Zero 2030 commitment.
“We have plenty of racing to look forward to in 2023, including the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, and our fans can look forward to more excitement next season.”
Image: Adam Pretty/Getty Images
