Nico Hülkenberg will be the only German in Formula 1 at Haas in 2024. Image: AP / Darko Bandic
Watson replies
01.03.2024, 10:2801.03.2024, 11:43
It hasn’t even been 100 days since Formula 1 took its winter break. A time that the teams used to first develop new cars and then present them. The drivers were able to relax for a few weeks, process the stress of the past season and prepare for the new year. Many fans are hoping for more excitement this season than last, when Max Verstappen dominated the premier motorsport class in the Red Bull.
It was already clear to Formula 1 legend Damon Hill after the first day of testing in Bahrain in mid-February that nothing would change. He summarized on X that Verstappen was 1.14 seconds faster than the car behind him and that Verstappen completed a total of 143 laps. He concluded his tweet with the following words: “You gods! Have you no mercy?”
But Hill’s question will not be the only one that Formula 1 fans are asking themselves before the start of the 75th season. Watson gives you the answers to the most important ones.
Why does the season start with two Saturday races?
This has to do with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. This year it starts on March 10th, the Sunday of the second race weekend in Saudi Arabia. Formula 1 itself stated that it did not want to hold a Grand Prix in a predominantly Muslim country during Ramadan.
Watson is now on WhatsApp
Now on Whatsapp and Instagram: your watson update! We’ll take care of you here on Whatsapp with the Watson highlights of the day. Only once a day – no spam, no blah, just seven links. Promised! Would you prefer to be informed on Instagram? Here you can find our broadcast channel.
The solution: The race in Jeddah is pushed forward by one day – to Saturday. Because the Formula 1 regulations state that there must be at least a week between two races, the start of the season in Bahrain is unlikely to take place next Sunday. That’s why the first race weekend was moved forward by one day.
However, the Grands Prix of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are not the only Saturday races. The US Grand Prix in Las Vegas will also start on a Saturday evening. Due to the time difference, it is already Sunday morning in Europe.
What driver changes were there before the season?
No. And that is an absolute novelty. In the 74 years of Formula 1, this has never happened before, where all teams keep their drivers and no driver is replaced or ends his career. Things looked completely different in 1994. At that time there were a total of 33 driver changes, ten of them in winter.
Is there a race in Germany?
No. The last Formula 1 race in Germany took place at the Hockenheim Ring in 2019. Back then, Max Verstappen won in the Red Bull. Last summer, Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali told “Bild am Sonntag” in reference to a German race: “We don’t ask for 100 million euros for a Grand Prix – but we do are not welfare either.”
Jorn Teske, managing director at the Hockenheimring, also raved about the great interest in Formula 1 in the Watson interview last summer, but also qualified: “In recent years it has repeatedly failed due to the financial situation.”
Are there any rule changes for the new Formula 1 season?
Only a few. The technical regulations are almost unchanged. However, the Fia (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) allows an additional opening in the front area of the car to better cool the cockpit.
In addition, the schedule of sprint weekends has been changed. Qualifying for the main race has been moved from Friday to Saturday and will take place after the sprint race. So there will be training on Fridays of the sprint weekend and then the sprint shootout. The idea behind it: The main qualifying and the race should be brought closer together again.
What does the Formula 1 2024 racing calendar look like?
For the first time, Formula 1 will hold 24 races in one year. This means that the season even extends into December. Specifically, the racing calendar this year looks like this:
Which TV channel is Formula 1 on in Germany?
In the coming Formula 1 season, every session on every race weekend will be broadcast by Sky. The pay broadcaster has secured the broadcasting rights until 2027. In 2024, Formula 1 will also return to RTL – and thus to free TV.
The Cologne free TV broadcaster has secured the sublicenses for a total of seven race weekends. The team around moderator Florian König gets started at the season opener in Bahrain. Other races: Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Azerbaijan and Las Vegas.
RTL also caused a stir and hired former Haas team boss Günther Steiner as an expert. A statement from the broadcaster recently said: “It is planned that Steiner will be on site at all seven races that RTL broadcasts on free TV and will act as an expert alongside presenter Florian König.”
There is currently sadness at Eintracht Frankfurt. And that despite the fact that the Hessians are currently in sixth place in the Bundesliga table – that’s at least enough for Conference League qualification, perhaps even for a place in the Europa League group phase. However, coach Dino Toppmöller’s team was rarely able to convince in terms of play in the last few games.