Bahrain Formula 1: Race Timing And More

The Bahrain Grand Prix is a highly anticipated event in the Formula 1 racing calendar, marking the start of the 2024 season with an unusual Saturday race. The race will begin at 6 pm local time (3 pm UK time) on Saturday, March 2, 2024, with qualifying taking place at 7 pm local time (4 pm UK time) on Friday, March 1. This will be the fourth consecutive year that Bahrain has hosted the season opener, with the race being held at the Bahrain International Circuit. Max Verstappen will be looking to defend his title, as he did in 2023 when he led a Red Bull 1-2 in qualifying.

The 2024 Formula 1 season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix

The race will begin at 18:00 local time (UTC+3) on Saturday, March 2, 2024, making it the first Formula One World Championship Grand Prix season-opener to start on a Saturday since the 1982 South African Grand Prix. The schedule shift is due to the following Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, which has been moved forward to Saturday, March 9, to avoid conflicting with the start of Ramadan on March 10. As a result, the Bahrain Grand Prix has also been adjusted to allow for the transportation of equipment to Jeddah and to comply with regulations that prohibit two Grands Prix within one calendar week.

The Bahrain Grand Prix will consist of 57 laps around the 5.412-kilometresection of the Bahrain International Circuit. The race will be preceded by three free practice sessions, with the first session taking place on February 29 at 14:30 local time, the second on the same day at 18:00, and the third on March 1 at 15:30. Qualifying will be held on March 1 at 19:00 local time, with the race commencing the following day at 18:00.

The 2024 Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain promises to be an exciting event, with intense competition expected between the 10 teams and 20 drivers participating. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing will aim to defend his world championship title, while Lewis Hamilton will start his final season with Mercedes before moving to Scuderia Ferrari in 2025. Hamilton surprised many by setting a rapid pace during the first two practice sessions, leading a one-two finish for Mercedes alongside his teammate George Russell. However, 2023 F1 Champion Max Verstappen will undoubtedly be a strong contender, aiming to build on his sixth-place finish during the practice sessions.

The race begins at 6 pm local time on Saturday, March 2

The 2024 Formula 1 season is almost here, and it all kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, March 2. This is the fourth year in a row that Bahrain has hosted the season opener, but this is the first time the race has been held on a Saturday. The race begins at 6 pm local time (3 pm UK time) and will be 57 laps long.

The reason for the Saturday race is the holy period of Ramadan, which begins on March 10. Holding the Bahrain race on Saturday gives enough time for the F1 paddock to pack up and move on to Jeddah, where the Saudi Arabian GP will also take place on a Saturday, ensuring it's complete before Ramadan starts.

Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix will take place at 7 pm local time (4 pm UK time) on Friday, March 1.

The Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit.

How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will be live broadcasting the Bahrain GP, with the race shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event. Pre-race coverage will begin on Sky Sports F1 at 1:30 pm GMT and coverage on Sky Sports Main Event at 2:30 pm GMT ahead of the race start.

How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix in other countries

Formula 1 is broadcast live in nearly every country around the world. Here are some examples of channels showing the race in different countries:

• Austria: Servus TV/ORF
• Belgium: RTBF/Telenet/Play Sports
• Croatia: Sport Klub
• Czech Republic: AMC
• Denmark: TV3+/TV3 Sport/Viaplay
• Finland: Viaplay/V sport +/V sport 1
• Greece: ANT1/ANT1+
• Netherlands: Viaplay/Viaplay Xtra
• Norway: V sport 1/V sport +/Viaplay
• Sweden: Viaplay/V sport motor/TV 10
• Switzerland: SRF/RSI/RTS
• Canada: RDS/RDS2/TSN/Noovo
• China: CCTV/Great Sports TV/Guangdong Television Channel
• Japan: Fuji TV/DAZN
• Malaysia: beIN SPORTS
• Australia: Fox Sports/Foxtel/Kayo

How to stream the Bahrain Grand Prix

Viewers from selected countries can subscribe to F1 TV to stream the race on a device of their choice. Sky TV (UK) and Movistar (Spain) also offer their own on-demand service.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is broadcast on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event

For those who don't want to commit to Sky, NOW offers live streaming through a one-off day payment of £11.98 or a monthly membership of £33.99.

In the United States, the ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2023 F1 races, with select races airing on ABC. Viewers in the US can also stream the race live with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is the opening race of the 2023 Formula 1 season. The race takes place on Sunday, March 5, at 6 pm local time (3 pm GMT). The race will be 57 laps of the Bahrain International Circuit, covering a total race distance of 308.238km.

Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, March 4, at 6 pm local time (3 pm GMT).

The race will be streamed on F1 TV in selected countries

The 2024 Formula 1 season will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 6 pm local time (3 pm UK time). The race will be streamed on F1 TV in selected countries.

F1 TV is available in over 80 countries, including Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania, and South America. However, it is important to note that not all countries have access to F1 TV Pro, which offers live streams. Some countries, like Spain, only have access to F1 TV Access, which does not include live streaming.

The price of an F1 TV subscription varies depending on the region. India and Turkey are currently the cheapest countries for F1 TV, with the F1 TV Pro plan costing around $3.99/month and the F1 TV Access plan starting at $2.99. On the other hand, Denmark is one of the most expensive countries, with a monthly cost of up to $15.53.

To get the best price for F1 TV, some people use a VPN to spoof their location to a country with a more favorable plan cost. However, it is important to note that using a VPN to purchase an F1 TV subscription is against their EULA, and there is a risk of having your account suspended.

For those in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will be live broadcasting the Bahrain GP, with the race shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event. Pre-race coverage will start on Sky Sports F1 at 1:30 pm GMT and on Sky Sports Main Event at 2:30 pm GMT ahead of the race start at 3:00 pm GMT. Channel 4 will also be broadcasting highlights of the race at 7:30 pm GMT on Sunday.

The 2022 Bahrain GP began at 6 pm local time on Sunday, March 20

The 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix began at 6 pm local time on Sunday, March 20. This was the first round of the 2022 Formula 1 season, with the race taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit. The race commenced at 6 pm local time, which was 3 pm GMT, and it was 57 laps in total. The race started at 3:00 pm GMT, with coverage on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event beginning at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm GMT, respectively.

The Bahrain GP was also broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra stations, the BBC Sounds app, and the BBC Sport website. Live coverage started at 2:45 pm GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.

The 2022 Bahrain GP was the first race of the 2022 F1 season, with Charles Leclerc starting from pole position for Ferrari. Leclerc beat Max Verstappen by 0.123 seconds on his final Q3 run. Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, secured fourth place, while Lewis Hamilton led the Mercedes charge in fifth.

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