The Formula 1 starts again from Bahrain for the longest season ever: 24 gare scheduled in 2024, always in the name of business. The underdogs are still for the Red Bull of the world champion Max Verstappendespite the case of the team principal Christian Horner accused of harassment by an employee of the stable. There Ferrariwaiting for 2025 with Lewis Hamilton, wants to try with Charles Leclerc e Carlos Sainz to at least annoy the Dutchman, to avoid a repeat of last season’s boring dominance. What is about to begin is precisely the last year of Lewis Hamilton on the Mercedes, which also in 2024 does not seem to be able to live up to Red Bull and if anything will fight with Ferrari for backup positions. However, the first real verdicts will come from Bahrain and the Sakhir circuit.
Program and times
For the first time in the history of F1 the first Grand Prix of the season will not be held on Sunday but on Saturdaywith qualifications scheduled for Friday. The same will happen the following week for the Grand Prix ofSaudi Arabia. A decision taken to respect the month of Ramadansacred to Muslims, which begins Sunday 10 March. Since the F1 rules state that there must be at least a week between one race and another, the Bahrain GP was also brought forward to Saturday. The green light will go off at 4pm Italian time, when it will be 6pm on the Sakhir circuit.
Where to see it on TV
The Bahrain GP, like all the 2024 Formula 1 events, is broadcast in live on the satellite platform of Sky: the reference channels are always Sky Sport Uno and Sky Sport F1 HD, with the possibility of viewing also on Sky Go. The entire package – free practice, qualifying and grand prix – is also broadcast live on NOW. To watch the Bahrain GP and Formula 1 free-to-air, however, the reference channel is always TV8, which however broadcasts qualifying and the race deferred. Here is the weekend’s TV program:
Thursday 29 February
Free practice 1: 12.30 – 1.30 pm (live Sky and Now)
Free practice 2: 4.00pm – 5.00pm (live on Sky and Now)
Friday 1 March
Free practice 3: 1.30pm – 2.30pm (live on Sky and Now)
Qualifying: 5pm (live Sky and Now)
Qualifying: 10pm (delayed on TV8)
Saturday 2 March
Race: 4pm (live Sky and Now)
Race: 9.30pm (delayed on TV8)