F1: Don’t Miss These Crucial Dates on the Racing Calendar - Speedway Digest

With the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship season concluded in Abu Dabi, Buckle up, racing fans! The new Formula 1 season 2024 has already begun. The 2024 F1 season began on 29 February and will continue until 8 December. It features over 24 races. Just before the opening, the pre-season took place in Bahrain at the end of February.

With the Chinese GP returning to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2019, the 2024 season is going to be a treat for racing enthusiasts. It promises intense action, drama filled with adrenaline, and close finishes.

As the cars prepare for another competition filled with speed worldwide, mark your F1 racing calendar with these important dates that will shape the course of the championship. Now, get set and secure your safety gear, as this guide provides all you need to know about the F1 calendar!

Season Opener: Start of the Racing Fever

Once again, the official season of the Formula 1 World Championship started in Sakhir on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix. The competition then moved to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on March 9. Since the calendar shifted schedule due to Ramadan, both races took place on a Saturday for the first time. Therefore, everything took place a day earlier than usual for these events.

The first two free practice sessions, FP1 and FP2, took place on Thursday, whereas the third and final free practice session, FP3, concluded on Friday before the Grand Prix on Saturday. Pre-season testing started at the Bahrain International Circuit at the end of February (21-23) before the 2024 season opener on 29 February in Bahrain.

How Many Races are on the 2024 F1 Calendar?

The official Formula 1 calendar for 2024 features a record-breaking Grand Prix, with 24 races taking place worldwide. This was meant to be the case for the 2023 calendar; however, both the Chinese Grand Prix and the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix dropped out due to different reasons. The Chinese Grand Prix was canceled in 2023 following COVID concerns in the country.

On the other hand, the Emilia-Romagna GP was also canceled due to the flooding in the region in 2023, reducing the whopping 24 races to only 22. Good news for F1 fans: Both Grand Prix are set to make a comeback in 2024, making it a season to watch out for.

The 2024 schedule includes 21 countries across five continents, with classic tracks including Silverstone, Spa, and Suzuka. We also have new additions to these tracks, including Qatar, Las Vegas, and Miami. This offers both the fans and the drivers something new and exciting to look forward to for this year’s competition.

Which Teams and Drivers will Participate in F1 in 2024?

A total of 10 teams form the lineup for this year’s Formula 1 season. Here are the teams and drivers mentioned below:

Red Bull Racing: Liam Lawson remains the reserve driver, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez as regular drivers and Rudy van Buren as a simulation driver.
Mercedes: Mercedes is participating in this year’s F1 championship with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

● Ferrari: Ollie Bearman, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Robert Shwartzman are reserve drivers in Ferrari’s 2024 competition, with Arthur Leclerc, Antonio Fuoco, and Davide Rigon as development drivers.

● Aston Martin: Aston Martin has retained Felipe Drugovich & Stoffel Vandoorne as their reserve drivers for 2024.

● McLaren: McLaren announced Ryo Hirakawa and Pato O’Ward as its reserve drivers, with Will Stevens and Oliver Turvey as simulation drivers and Gabriel Bortoleto as its development drivers.

● Alpine: Alpine has retained Jack Doohan as its reserve driver for the 2024 F1 season.

● Williams: Williams has joined the 2024 season with Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant.

Haas F1 Team: Haas is participating this year with Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen as its drivers.

● Sauber: Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are driving for Sauber for the 2024 F1 season.

● VCARB: VCARB is participating with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda as their drivers for the 2024 F1 season.

What is the 2024 F1 Calendar

The season started with pre-season testing from February 21-23 in Bahrain and will run until December 6-8 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina. Here is the full calendar: