F1
When does the F1 pre-season start and where is it?
An easily remembered 24 races will determine the 2024 Formula 1 season’s champion, from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi, but first up, it’s pre-season.
It’s almost time! The upcoming 2024 Formula 1 season is just days away and as we have highlighted before, some notable format adjustments are in place. Fridays will see free practice and sprint qualifying and that is followed on the Saturday with the sprint race and then qualifying for the main race. Will Max Verstappen take yet another title, or can the likes of Lewis Hamilton, embarking on his farewell season with Mercedes, Lando Norris, Sergio Perez, Oscar Piastri or George Russell stop him. It all begins with pre-season so let’s check out the dates for that and the road ahead for the drivers.
Formula 1 race calendar 2024
First up for the drivers and constructors is pre-season testing. This will take place at the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, which you’ll recognise as the home of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which kicks things off 29 February - 2 March. The testing will be split across three days:
Each practice from 2 a.m. - 11 a.m. ET
21 February: Practice 1
22 February: Practice 2
23 February: Practice 3
The extension to the season sees the return of the Chinese Grand Prix after a five-year absence, while Silverstone hosts the British Grand Prix after signing a new, decade-long extension with Formula 1. Fans can also look forward to six sprint weekends at the Chinese, Miami, Austrian, United States, São Paulo and Qatar races.
All the races for F1 2024
Full 2022 Formula 1 Calendar
Testing
- Sakhir 21-23 February Bahrain International Circut Sakhir, Bahrain
Race calendar
- Bahrain Grand Prix - 29 February- 2 March Bahrain International Circut Sakhir, Bahrain
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - 7-9 March Jeddah Corniche Circut Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Australian Grand Prix - 22-24 March Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne, Australia
- Japanese Grand Prix - 5-7 April Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka, Japan
- Chinese Grand Prix - 19-21 April Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China
- United States Grand Prix - 3-5 May Miami International Autodrome, Florida, USA
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna - 17-19 May Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari Bologna, Italy
- Monaco Grand Prix - 24-26 May Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
- Grand Prix du Canada - 7-9 June Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada
- Gran Premio de España - 21-23 June Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- Austrian Grand Prix 28-30 June Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria
- British Grand Prix - 5-7 July Silverstone Circuit Towcester, UK
- Hungarian Grand Prix 19-21 July Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary
- Belgian Grand Prix - 26-28 July Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium
- Dutch Grand Prix - 23-25 August Circuit Zandvoort Zandvoort, Netherlands
- Gran Premio d'Italia - 30 August- 1 September Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix - 13-15 September Baku City Circuit Baku, Azerbaijan
- Singapore Grand Prix - 20-22 September Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore
- United States Grand Prix - 18-29 October Circuit of the Americas, Austin, USA
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México 25-27 October Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo - 1-3 November Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil
- Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 21-13 November Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Nevada, USA
- Qatar Grand Prix 29 November-1 December Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - 6-8 December 18-20 Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
The driver lineup for the F1 2024 season remains unchanged from the previous year, ensuring continuity as the 20 drivers prepare to line up in Bahrain on March 2, mirroring the grid that concluded the 2023 season at the Abu Dhabi GP.
Meanwhile, car manufacturers have been diligently preparing for the upcoming campaign. Aston Martin initiated proceedings by unveiling their new AMR24, addressing various technical issues and refining weaknesses from the previous model. Following suit, Ferrari presented their SF-24 car, aiming to make significant strides in performance. During the season’s official launch, Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur expressed his anticipation.
“Presenting a new car to the world for the first time is always a very exciting moment for me and the drivers, even if we are all already thinking about the moment we will go head-to-head with our rivals on track. This year, we must start off where we left off at the end of last season, when we were consistent front runners, with a view to constantly improving in all areas.”