2024 F1 calendar unveiled with greener* regionalised structure

After much paperwork (and literally years of talking about it), F1 has published a ‘regionalised’, 24-race calendar for next season that cuts down on some of its exuberant globetrotting.

Note some, not all. The highlights are this: the 2024 campaign will start in Bahrain on 2 March followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a week later.

Both of these are Saturday races, chosen to respect Ramadan which begins on 10 March next year. The other Saturday race on the calendar is the Las Vegas GP in November.

Meanwhile Japan and Azerbaijan have effectively switched places to save a few air miles, with the former now set to be held in early April and the latter in September.

And the Qatar Grand Prix shifts from its current slot at the start of October to become the penultimate race of the season, allowing it to run back-to-back with the finale in Abu Dhabi.

Oh, and the Chinese Grand Prix - which was last on the calendar in pre-pandemic times - is back.

The thinking is that the reduced travel will reduce the sport’s environmental impact and make it more sustainable as the grid moves towards a fully sustainable fuel for its already uber-efficient V6 turbos.

24 races in 2024 with big steps forward in regionalisation 🌏

Introducing next year’s Formula 1 calendar 🗓️#F1 pic.twitter.com/JTSWJL29yH

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2023

“I am delighted to announce the 2024 calendar with 24 races that will deliver an exciting season for our fans around the world,” said F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali. “There is huge interest and continued demand for Formula 1, and I believe this calendar strikes the right balance between traditional races and new and existing venues.

“I want to thank all of the promoters and partners for their support and effort to achieve this great schedule. 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.

However F1’s communiqué regarding the calendar stresses that ‘there will always be travel required that cannot be completely regionalised’, which might explain why F1 still plans to hop from Miami to Imola and then back to Canada via Monaco in the space of a month. Huh?

“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,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “Stefano Domenicali and his team have done a great job to both bring in new and exciting venues in emerging markets for Formula 1, and stay true to the sport's long and remarkable heritage.

Remarks below, if you please.