What time does the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix start?

Max Verstappen won the 2023 World Championship without much competition. Red Bull Racing had the dominant car and finished first and second in the standings. The likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin will hope to be closer in 2024. The Bahrain Grand Prix marks the first time the teams can measure up to the champions following a winter full of upgrades and direction changes. 

Why is there a Saturday Grand Prix?

The reason is Ramadan. The annual fasting period for Muslims in 2024 starts on Sunday, March 10, as soon as the sun sets. Therefore, the organisers of motorsport's top class wanted to ensure that Saudi Arabia's Grand Prix weekend (round two) ends as early as Saturday. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country. The weekend in Jeddah ends on Saturday, so the first two free practice sessions will already take place on Thursday. This also directly impacts the opening weekend in Bahrain, which is scheduled a week earlier than Saudi Arabia.

Teams always arrive at the circuit on Wednesday at the earliest, on a normal race weekend. But because the free practice sessions in Jeddah are already on Thursday, all teams will need/want to be there on Tuesday. That is logistically unfeasible if there is still racing in Bahrain on Sunday. So, the race there will also be on Saturday, allowing more time to move the whole circus to Saudi Arabia.

When will the drivers be in action?

The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend will use the traditional format, aside from the shift in days. Two practice sessions will be held on Thursday, with a third on Friday. Qualifying will occur on Friday, with the Grand Prix completed on Saturday. As always in Bahrain, the event is held at night under floodlights.

Bahrain Grand Prix schedule (Times in BST)

Friday, March 01

Free practice 3 - 12:30 - 13:30

Qualifying - 16:00 - 17:00

Saturday, March 02

The Bahrain Grand Prix - 15:00