Administrator Stan 18,397 Posted July 5, 2023 Administrator Share Posted July 5, 2023 Quote China is set to return to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since the pandemic in a major revision of the schedule for 2024. The season starts with races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to be held on Saturdays, because of the impact of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. In the quest for greater sustainability, the Japanese race moves to 7 April from its usual autumn date. And Azerbaijan will be twinned with Singapore in September. The calendar features what would be a record 24 races - exactly the same number as were due to be held this year before the cancellation of the Chinese and Emilia-Romagna Grands Prix. Earlier this year, Australian Grand Prix organisers announced that Saudi Arabia would hold the opening race of the 2024 season. But F1 has found a way to fit both Bahrain and Jeddah in before Melbourne by making the Middle Eastern events Saturday night races. Ramadan starts on the evening of 10 March, the day after the Saudi event. China was due to return this year but had to be cancelled because of the uncertainty over the Covid situation in the country at the start of the year, when there were riots as a result of continued social restrictions. These have now been lifted. The move towards greater regionalisation - which is an attempt to reduce carbon emissions from flights as F1 strives to become net-zero carbon by 2030 - has been partly stymied by Canadian organisers resisting F1's attempts to twin the Montreal race with Miami in May. Instead, the Canadian Grand Prix retains its traditional June date, forcing teams to fly across the Atlantic twice in just over a month. F1 chairman Stefano Domenicali said: "Our journey to a more sustainable calendar will continue in the coming years as we further streamline operations as part of our Net Zero 2030 commitment." FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: "We want to make the global spectacle of Formula 1 more efficient in terms of environmental sustainability and more manageable for the travelling staff who dedicate so much of their time to our sport." Pre-season testing is due to be held in Bahrain on 21-23 February but those dates are still subject to approval from the FIA world motorsport council. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/66113180 29 February - 2 March - Bahrain 7-9 March - Saudi Arabia 22-24 March - Australia 5-7 April - Japan 19-21 April - China 3-5 May - Miami 17-19 May - Emilia-Romagna 24-26 May - Monaco 7-9 June - Canada 21-23 June - Spain 28-30 June - Austria 5-7 July - United Kingdom 19-21 July - Hungary 26-28 July - Belgium 23-25 August - Netherlands 30 August - 1 September - Italy 13-15 September - Azerbaijan 20-22 September - Singapore 18-20 October - USA (Austin) 25-27 October - Mexico City 1-3 November - Brazil 21-23 November - Las Vegas 29 November - 1 December - Qatar 6-8 December - Abu Dhabi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUFC 1,507 Posted July 5, 2023 Share Posted July 5, 2023 I've missed China big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Tommy 12,624 Posted July 5, 2023 Moderator Share Posted July 5, 2023 I still don't understand why they drive in Europe, go to Canada, then back to Europe. Sounds logistically and environmentally stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,397 Posted July 5, 2023 Author Administrator Share Posted July 5, 2023 53 minutes ago, Tommy said: I still don't understand why they drive in Europe, go to Canada, then back to Europe. Sounds logistically and environmentally stupid. Sounds like Canada organisers dug their heels in and wanted to keep their normal June slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUFC 1,507 Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 7 hours ago, Stan said: Sounds like Canada organisers dug their heels in and wanted to keep their normal June slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber RandoEFC+ 7,670 Posted July 6, 2023 Subscriber Share Posted July 6, 2023 I'm reaching that saturation point now that I've seen a lot of other people reach. 23 races this season including the six sprints with twice as many competitive sessions is just too much. I don't want to miss any of it but I don't want to spend that much time watching it either. The Verstappen dominance is annoying but doesn't switch me off the sport, and as much as I dislike DRS and there are boring races, I still feel as though the actual racing is generally more entertaining than it was when I started watching the sport in 2008. However, there's just no way I can keep up with this many races a season in the way I have throughout my 20s whilst maintaining my relationship, having other hobbies and probably starting a family at some point in the next few years. The logistics and having the team employees do that much travelling for what's now over 50% of weekends once you omit the off-season is absolutely scandalous and has been for a few years. They keep pushing it by adding another race every year or two just so they can put ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING YEAR in all caps on Twitter and get some extra likes. We've got to be close to the point where there will be some sort of strike among the mechanics and the other staff that go to the track. The idea has been floated about having different sets of staff who rotate instead of doing every race but I just can't think how that would ever be easy with the budget cap and teams wouldn't want to have to train twice as many pit-crew to carry out top-tier pit-stops and stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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