2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Preview

It’s race week once again as the 2024 season kicks off in the Middle East for the Bahrain Grand Prix as both Red Bull and Max Verstappen work to defend their titles.

There are a lot of variables heading into the 2024 season, like whether are Red Bull as fast as they look considering pre-season testing, whether will Ferrari be able to mount a fight against the reigning champions and will Christian Horner be Team Principal tomorrow?

However, the Bahrain Grand Prix will officially ignite the 2024 world championship, at the Bahrain International Circuit, with the race weekend starting on Thursday due to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Christian Horner’s fate

It’s been well reported that Christian Horner has been placed under investigation for allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour,’ which was reported to Red Bull’s parent company in Austria. 

Despite this, Horner has continued to take up his usual position at the head of the F1 team, appearing at the car launch and pre-season test.

Although the Red Bull team principal denies the allegations and has, reportedly, complied with the investigation. The inquiry is said to have been completed and is expected to be communicated to Horner – if it hasn’t been already. 

In the next coming days, we will see the fate of Horner as he either leaves or continues in his position as Red Bull Racing Team Principal. 

Time to impress

Following Lewis Hamilton’s shock announcement as he prepares to move to Ferrari from Mercedes, at the end of the 2024 season, drivers will be getting themselves in the shop window. 

As such the start of the season in Bahrain will provide the drivers, without a contract in 2025, a clear opportunity to prepare themselves for the driver market. 

Whilst performances straight out of the box in Bahrain would be telling signs for the teams, it’ll certainly give them more ammunition to either scoop them up from their competitors or renew their contracts. 

New weekend structure

The Bahrain Grand Prix, and subsequent Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, will see a new weekend structure. As a result of Ramadan, the race weekend will be brought forward by a day. 

This means practice one and two sessions will be held on Thursday, free practice three and qualifying will be held on Saturday and the race will be lights out on Saturday. 

The race weekend format will be from Thursday to Saturday for the two first races but will return to its normal Friday to Sunday format in Australia. 

The only exception to this will be Las Vegas, in November, which will be the third Saturday race of the season.

That’s all for the article; 2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Preview!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• F1 Academy announces Tommy Hilfiger as official partner with Nerea Martí completing grid
• What we learnt from the 2024 F1 Pre-Season Test
• Final pre-season test moves into one session as Sainz tops timesheet
• Sainz on top as Day 2 of F1 2024 testing comes to close
• Drain cover brings end to F1 Morning Test on Day 2
• Who fared better on the first day of 2024 F1 testing

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.