Shuffle up! China rejoins the running order for the first time since 2019 as Formula 1 embarks on its biggest and most ambitious calendar ever
ROUND 1/24 Bahrain Sakhir, 29 February-2 March
NEED TO KNOW This year will mark 20 years since Bahrain held its first grand prix in 2004. In that time, the island Kingdom has established itself as a welcoming venue to host the season opener. One week after the three-day test in Sakhir, this year’s race is scheduled for Saturday night, which will synchronize neatly with the Middle East weekend. Just remember to tune into practice on Thursday afternoon. Drivers need to manage their rear tyres on this traction-limited layout and be conscious of the strong gusts that can blow sand onto the circuit, making it slippery off-line.
RACE DATA Circuit name Bahrain International Circuit First GP 2004 F1 races held 19 Laps 57 Circuit length 3.362 miles Race distance 191.530 miles Direction Clockwise Winners from pole 9 Race start (UK time) 3pm
LAST RACE HERE (2023) Winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull) Margin of victory 11.987s Fastest lap 1m33.996s, Zhou Guanyu Race leaders 2 Pitstops 52 Overtakes 22
ROUND 2/24 Saudi Arabia Jeddah, 7-9 March
The self-proclaimed ‘world’s fastest street circuit’ has produced some dramatic racing, notably the duel between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in 2022, and the track can be a harumscarum ride with fast corners lined by concrete barriers. This year there will be a spectacular drone light show before the start of the race, and the event will host the first race in the revamped all-female F1 Academy series.
RACE DATA
Circuit name Jeddah Corniche Circuit
First GP 2021 F1 races held 3 Laps 50 Circuit length 3.836 miles
Race distance 191.662 miles Direction Anticlockwise Winners from pole 2 Race start (UK time) 5pm
ROUND 3/24 Australia Melbourne, 22-24 March
NEED TO KNOW The emergence of Oscar Piastri as a future star has given the Australian audience something extra to cheer. Last year’s race enjoyed a weekend attendance of over 400,000 and the enthusiastic fans got value for money as the action was interrupted by three red flags, setting up a
