Formula 1 seems poised to deviate from tradition for three races in 2024, as fans can anticipate Saturday races inaugurating the season in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Las Vegas.
The rationale behind the altered schedule for the first two races, held in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, is tied to the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan. Consequently, the initial two races of the 2024 season are scheduled for Saturdays. Notably, Ramadan commences at sunset on Saturday, March 9, 2024, coinciding with the race day in Jeddah.
This circumstance also compels a shift of the Bahrain race to the preceding Saturday. This adjustment stems indirectly from the onset of Ramadan, as scheduling the inaugural race on a Sunday would leave the F1 entourage with a day less for the journey to Saudi Arabia.
Despite the apparent proximity of the locations, in reality, they necessitate a lengthy road trip of nearly 15 hours by car. Thus, reducing the travel and setup time by a day is decidedly undesirable.
Later in the year, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on a Saturday. The rationale behind this decision is to cater to both American and European audiences. The optimal time to engage viewers in the United States while also accommodating European fans is on Saturday night.
Renee Wilm, CEO of the Las Vegas GP explains: "We have found a solution so that European fans can watch the race with a cup of coffee at six or seven in the morning, just like it happens in the U.S. during the European races."
So for Americans, the Las Vegas GP will take place at 10 pm in the evening.