F1 gets underway in Bahrain: this is what the updated schedule looks like!
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The Formula 1 season kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix. After months of speculation and an eventful winter test in Bahrain, racing is really about to start again. Read here when and what time to turn on for the sessions of this race weekend in Bahrain.
F1 is starting again; traditionally, the season kicks off in Bahrain. Then, all the teams' cards will have to be on the table, and it will become clear who has and has not done their homework well.
Who is favourite for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Everyone in the paddock seems to agree that Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing start the 2024 F1 season as favourites. The Dutchman won 19 out of 22 Grands Prix last year, clinching his third world title. The RB20 is an aggressive evolution of the RB19, which seems to have surprised the competition quite a bit.
Behind Red Bull, the field seems to have moved closer together. McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin all completed a solid week of testing. The differences between these teams seem small, although Ferrari drove the best times so far. Setbacks include Stake and Haas, although Alpine's test week also shows little confidence.
In Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, this year's Grands Prix will be held on Saturday due to the start of Ramadan. This moves the entire programme forward by one day. In Bahrain, the race takes place in the evening local time, and the time difference with Central Europe is two hours. In the United Kingdom, the difference is three hours. The Bahrain Grand Prix is on Saturday, 2 March, at 15:00 UK time.
What time does the 2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix start? (UK times)
Thursday, 29 February
First free practice: 11:30-12:30
Second free practice: 15:00-16:00
Friday 1 March
Third free practice: 12:30-13:30
Qualifying: 16:00-17:00
Saturday 2 March
Grand Prix: 15:00-17:00