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 threeday test in 1 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
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
LAST RACE HERE (2023)
Winner Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Margin of victory 5.355s
Fastest lap 1m31.906s Max Verstappen
Race leaders 2
Pitstops 24
Overtakes 35
NEED TO KNOW
The fourth GP to be held next to the Red Sea will also be a Saturday night race owing to the start of Ramadan on 10 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.
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
