Why Bahrain and Saudi GPs Scheduled for Saturdays in F1

The 2024 Formula 1 season holds an exciting surprise for sports fans, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix taking place on Saturday. This strange decision is closely related to time zone considerations with Europe and the search for a more attractive global audience.

The Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for March 7 and 8, and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are not the only events to take place on a Saturday in 2024. This special program also includes the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 24. .

Behind the change is careful consideration of the important time zone between the region and Europe. For example, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for 10pm local time. If the competition is played on a Sunday, it will start at 6am on Monday in the UK. This can reduce viewership because many fans are ready to work.

By moving these races to Saturdays, Formula 1 wants to avoid conflicting working hours in different parts of the world. This in turn optimizes community participation and ensures that fans can enjoy the competition without worrying about their daily commitments.

This is not common practice in F1 as only 75 races have been held on days other than Sunday. The most recent was the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and before that we jumped 38 years to the 1985 South African Grand Prix, which also took place on Saturday.

The decision to stage the race on Saturday not only highlights the complexity of the global F1 calendar, but also reflects the series’ commitment to providing a more accessible viewing experience for fans around the world. Avoiding conflicts with working hours and making live streaming available to more people is an innovative strategy to maintain interest in F1 worldwide.

As the 2024 season approaches, fans can expect not only exciting competition on the tracks, but also a dynamic and adaptive approach to the racing schedule. These changes are sure to add a new dimension to the F1 experience as the series continues to find innovative and exciting ways to captivate audiences.