Formula 1 races on Saturday for the Saudi Arabian GP too. For the second consecutive race weekend, we remain in the Middle East, moving slightly from Bahrain to the Jeddah circuit.
Introduced to F1 in 2021, the Saudi Arabian GP has had three different winners so far. In the first edition, Lewis Hamilton triumphed; Max Verstappen won the second, and last year, Sergio Pérez crossed the finish line first.
The presence of Formula 1 on the shores of the Red Sea has often raised questions in past seasons. Not only due to its human rights policies but also because of its geographical location.
In 2022, the race’s dispute was heavily jeopardized by the conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia for control over Yemen. Symbolic was the decision to proceed with the normal course of events despite various missiles and drones hitting the event’s venue (and surrounding areas).
Returning to the introduction, this year the Saudi Arabian GP will take place on Saturday, marking an absolute novelty since its introduction.
The main reason lies in Islamic law. On Sunday, March 10, 2024, Ramadan begins, the sacred month for Muslims who observe daytime fasting and suspend various activities from dawn to sunset. Ramadan ends on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Formula 1 has decided to respect this practice and move the entire Jeddah weekend up by one day; hence, we will have Free Practice 1 and 2 on Thursday, Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Friday. The race will take place on Saturday, March 9.
The Bahrain GP took place on Saturday not so much due to Ramadan but because of the Formula 1 regulations, which require at least one week between races.
Source: f1ingenerale
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