2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix preview: timings, how to watch, and more
One week after Max Verstappen took a concerningly imperious victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, we head to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for round two of the 2024 F1 world championship.
It would be fair to say our enthusiasm for the remaining 23 races of this season has diminished somewhat after the ease with which Verstappen trundled to glory last time out, but at least we get to look forward to another blitz around the terrifyingly high-speed streets of Jeddah. Let’s take it one week at a time, eh?
Why is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday?
The Holy Month of Ramadan begins on Sunday 10th March, so to accommodate that this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was moved to Saturday 9th. Last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix was also moved to Saturday to comply with the regulation that stipulates no two races can be held within seven days of each other. The F1 season will return to Sundays after this weekend.
When can I watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
The second round of the 2024 F1 season gets underway with Free Practice 1 on Thursday 7th March at 13:30 UK time (16:30 local). FP2 gets underway at 17:00 UK time (20:00 local) for the weekend’s first session under the lights.
Free Practice 3 kicks off the F1 track action on Friday at 13:30 UK time (16:30 local) before qualifying, once again under the lights, at 17:00 UK time (20:00 local).
The 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix starts at 17:00 UK time (20:00 local) on Saturday 9th March, for what will be the season’s second night race.
How to watch the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to all live coverage of F1 in the UK. Every session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be shown live and uninterrupted on Sky Sports F1.
Which support series are racing in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend will be the first to feature F1 Academy among its support series. The all-female junior formula will fit into the schedule alongside Formula 2 and the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East in Jeddah.
Practice for F2 kicks off the weekend’s on-track action on Thursday morning before qualifying in the afternoon. The F2 sprint gets underway at 15:10 UK time (18:10 local) on Friday with lights out for the feature race on Saturday at 13:25 UK time (16:25 local).
The 2024 F1 Academy season gets underway in Saudi Arabia, with the series’ first practice session starting at 11:05 UK time (14:05 local) on Thursday. Qualifying follows later in the day at 18:30 UK time (21:30 local).
F1 Academy race 1 takes place on Friday at 12:10 UK time (15:10 local), race two follows on Saturday at 12:05 UK time (15:05 local).
Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.
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