The F1 unveils the calendar for 2024

The 2024 F1 season will start on February 29th and end on December 8th with 24 Grand Prix on the calendar.

As this year and since 2021, Bahrain will be the opening round of the 2024 Formula 1 season, contrary to what the organizers of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix had announced. Indeed, the Ramadan period starting earlier than this year, on March 10, 2024, the organizers of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix had explained that they had positioned themselves at the beginning of the season. However, it is Bahrain that will host the first Grand Prix in 2024. Also a majority Muslim country, the constraints related to Ramadan were the same.

An important date change for Japan

The major change in this calendar is the inversion of dates between Japan and Azerbaijan. Therefore, the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka will take place from April 5th to 7th, and Baku (Azerbaijan Grand Prix) will take place from September 13th to 15th. These conditions may help to avoid heavy rains in Suzuka, which traditionally falls during the typhoon season. This change also has an ecological virtue, as it allows for closer races in the Pacific region, thus saving time, money, and unnecessary CO2 emissions for the teams and Formula 1.

>h2>The return of China

China is also part of the calendar, with a Grand Prix taking place from April 19th to 21st, two weeks after Japan. This is the first time that the two countries, which are almost neighbors, will have consecutive Grand Prix weekends. Usually, Japan is towards the end of the season. The Chinese Grand Prix has not taken place since the arrival of COVID-19, and although it is scheduled for 2023, the country’s leaders canceled the Grand Prix just before the start of the season to avoid potential issues.

The truce and the breaks

The Belgian Grand Prix will, like this year, be the last race before the summer break, and the championship will conclude in Abu Dhabi.

In 2024, there will be 3 “triple-headers”: Barcelona-Spielberg-Silverstone, Austin-Mexico-São Paulo, and Las Vegas-Qatar-Abu Dhabi.

There will therefore be very few weeks of rest since the 24 races are spread over 45 weeks.

The words of the FIA and F1

The president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, as well as Stefano Domenicali, president of Formula 1, both mentioned this new calendar. Among the key points to remember from their statements, it is especially important to note their intention to build a calendar that aligns with ecological challenges. However, they also discussed the relocation of Formula 1 personnel and the cooperation of promoters, in a sport where demand is increasingly high.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem:

The calendar of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship 2024, which has been approved by the members of the Motorsport Council, represents an important step towards achieving our common goals. We want to make the global spectacle of Formula 1 more efficient in terms of environmental sustainability and easier to manage for the traveling personnel who dedicate a significant amount of their time to our sport. Stefano Domenicali and his team have done a remarkable job in bringing new and exciting sites to emerging markets for Formula 1, while remaining true to the long and remarkable heritage of this sport. Each race can only take place thanks to the collaboration between the FIA, the FOM, the promoters, and the host ASNs, who bring together thousands of volunteer officials and support personnel so that we can go racing.

Stefano Domenicali:

« I am delighted to announce the 2024 calendar with 24 races that will offer an exciting season to our fans around the world. The interest in Formula 1 is tremendous and the demand continues, and I believe that this calendar finds the right balance between traditional races and new and existing venues. I would like to thank all promoters and partners for their support and the efforts they have made to make this exceptional calendar possible. Our journey towards a more sustainable calendar will continue in the years to come as we streamline our operations as part of our “Net Zero 2030” commitment. We have a lot of races to look forward to in 2023, including the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, and our fans can expect even more excitement next season. »

The F1 calendar 2024