Bahrain Qualifying: Start Time And What To Expect

The 2024 Formula 1 season kicked off with the Bahrain Grand Prix, with qualifying taking place on Friday, March 1, 2024, instead of the usual Saturday. The session started at 7 pm local time (4 pm UK time) and was broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 in the United Kingdom. Max Verstappen took pole position with a lap time of 1:29.179, beating Charles Leclerc by 0.228 seconds.

Bahrain GP qualifying start time: 7 pm local time

The 2024 Formula 1 season kicked off with the Bahrain Grand Prix, with qualifying taking place on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 7 pm local time. This was a shift from the usual schedule, as the race was moved forward by one day ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP the following week. This change aimed to navigate logistical challenges and adhere to F1 calendar constraints.

The qualifying session, consisting of Q1, Q2, and Q3 knockout rounds, started at 7 pm local time in Bahrain (4 pm GMT), with the entire event broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 in the United Kingdom. Viewers in the United States could tune in through ESPN2, and live radio coverage was available on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra, and the BBC Sounds app.

The Bahrain Grand Prix marked the fourth consecutive year that the country hosted the F1 season opener. However, it was the first time the race was held on a Saturday, falling on March 2, 2024. This scheduling was due to the holy month of Ramadan, which began on March 10.

The qualifying session set the stage for an exciting race, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull taking pole position with a lap time of 1:29.179, closely followed by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. The race itself delivered plenty of action, with Verstappen claiming the top spot once again and taking home the first win of the 2024 F1 season.

Lewis Hamilton topped Thursday practice times

Lewis Hamilton topped the Thursday practice times for Mercedes ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton was 0.206 seconds quicker than his team-mate George Russell, with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso just 0.08 seconds further adrift.

Pre-season favourite Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, was down in sixth, 0.477 seconds off the pace. However, when the teams switched to race-simulation runs later in the session, Verstappen appeared to be the fastest as expected.

The Bahrain GP FP2 results were as follows:

• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• George Russell (Mercedes)
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin Racing)
• Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• Nico Hulkenberg (Haas F1 Team)
• Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Racing)
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing)

The Bahrain GP FP1 results were as follows:

• Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
• Lando Norris (McLaren)
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• F. Alonso (Aston Martin Racing)
• M. Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• L. Hamilton (Mercedes)
• S. Perez (Red Bull Racing)
• L. Stroll (Aston Martin Racing)
• L. Sargeant Williams
• K. Magnussen (Haas F1 Team)

Bahrain GP race start time: 6 pm local time

The Bahrain GP race start time is 6 pm local time (3 pm UK time) on Saturday, March 2, 2024. This is the fourth consecutive year that Bahrain has hosted the season opener, but it is the first time the race has been held on a Saturday.

The shift to a Saturday race is due to the holy period of Ramadan, which began on March 10. Holding the Bahrain race on Saturday gives enough time to move on to Jeddah, where the Saudi Arabian GP will also take place on a Saturday, ensuring that the race is completed before Ramadan starts.

The Bahrain GP weekend has been shifted forward by one day compared to its regular schedule. This means that qualifying took place on Friday, March 1, starting at 7 pm local time (4 pm UK time).

Max Verstappen wins the first race of the 2024 season

Max Verstappen has won the first race of the 2024 Formula One season. The race took place in Bahrain, with qualifying taking place on Friday, March 1, 2024, instead of the usual Saturday. The race was the first of two successive races in the Middle East, with the second taking place in Saudi Arabia on March 9.

Verstappen's win in Bahrain was his fifth career grand slam and his 100th Formula One podium. The Dutch-Belgian driver, who races under the Dutch flag, has won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, which he won consecutively from 2021 to 2023. He is currently competing for his fourth title, with his closest challenger being Lando Norris of McLaren.

Verstappen's win in Bahrain was not without controversy, however. He received a penalty for forcing a competitor off the track, but he was still able to reclaim the lead and win the race. Verstappen has faced criticism for incidents involving title rival Norris, with some commentators likening his tactics and attitude to those of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

Despite this, Verstappen has a large and dedicated fanbase, particularly in his home country of the Netherlands, where his frequent association with the colour orange has led to his fans being referred to as the Orange Army. He was also voted the most popular Formula One driver in a worldwide survey conducted by Nielsen Media Research and Motorsport Network in 2021.

Where to watch Bahrain GP qualifying

The Bahrain Grand Prix is broadcast live in almost every country. Below is a list of TV channels that broadcast the Bahrain GP qualifying in different parts of the world:

Europe

• Austria: Servus TV / ORF
• Belgium: RTBF / Telenet / Play Sports
• Croatia: Sport Klub
• Czech Republic: AMC
• Denmark: TV3+ / TV3 Sport / Viaplay
• 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

North America

• Canada: RDS / RDS2 / TSN / Noovo
• United States: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNEWS / ESPN3

Latin America

Latin America: ESPN, Fox Sports

Asia

• China: CCTV / Shanghai TV / Guangdong Television Channel / Tencent, Great Sports TV
• Japan: Fuji TV / DAZN
• Malaysia: beIN SPORTS, Astro Sports
• Indonesia: beIN SPORTS, 0 Channel / Champions TV / Vidio
• Singapore: beIN SPORTS, Singtel / Starhub
• Thailand: beIN SPORTS, True Visions
• Turkey: S Sport / S Sport Plus

Oceania

• Australia: Fox Sports / Foxtel / Kayo / Network Ten, FuboTV, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube with Live TV
• New Zealand: Spark Sports

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4 broadcast the Bahrain GP qualifying. Sky Sports F1 offers live coverage, while Channel 4 broadcasts highlights.

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