'Bahrain or Saudi Arabia due in 2024 in October at the earliest'

The 2023 season has only just started, but in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia the focus is already on next year. The organisers of both Grands Prix are mainly wondering who may host the opening race in 2024. Indeed, due to Ramadan, a problem beckons.

From March 10 to April 8 in 2024 is the annual fasting period for Muslims. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are reluctant to host a Grand Prix during that period. There is a possibility for either country to host Formula One on 3 March - seemingly the earliest time in the next season. The country that does not host the likely opening race of the year will probably have to wait until October before the whole circus stops by.

Far too hot

"One of us, it's either going to be Saudi or Bahrain that can have a race before Ramadan, and after Ramadan, the weather in April and May is hot" Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia told US broadcaster ESPN. "So March is the last time where the weather is suitable. We saw races used to happen in April in Bahrain, and it was too hot."

According to the prince, talks with the FOM and the teams are going to follow to determine which circuit may facilitate the inaugural 2024 race. "It will shift to somewhere, I mean, October or after October, where the weather starts to get better in our region," he said. The other circuit should then be visited in the autumn.