Report: F1 Makes Changes to Bahrain Grand Prix Schedule With No Activities on Thursday

Earlier in 2021, F1 drafted a rather chaotic 23-race calendar comprising multiple double-header and triple-header weekends. However, the pandemic managed to minimize the burden for the drivers and the teams, as F1 reverted to a record-equaling 22-race calendar instead, but it was still hectic enough.

Hence, heading into the 2022 season, the sport was always going to undergo a few changes, considering it will yet again be a season with 23 race events. Well, the confirmation has arrived. Race weekends will no longer happen over a 4-day period and instead will be one day short.

How it has been over the years in F1

In January 2022, F1 held internal talks over rethinking the organization of events over a race weekend. Until 2021, race events unfold over a period of four days. Track walks followed by the press conference on Thursday. Then, on Friday, the first and second Free Practice sessions will take place with a 2.5-hour break between the two sessions.

Following the end of FP2, the drivers will take part in the post-practice interview in the paddock. Then, on Saturday, a similar pattern to Friday follows. FP3 followed by the qualifying session and the post-qualifying interview.

And finally, on Sunday, the main race will be followed by the post-race press conference and paddock interviews before the teams and drivers pack up and head to the next event destination.

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Changes made to the race weekends in 2022

According to F1 reporter Albert Fabrega, no activity will happen on Thursday. Instead, the press conference will take place on Friday at 11:30 AM local time in Bahrain. Meanwhile, both FP1 and FP2 will take place later in the day; the first session is scheduled for 3:00 PM while the second session is for 6:00 PM.

On Saturday, the team principals’ press conference will take place at 2:10 PM. The final practice session will unfold at 3:00 PM, while the qualifying session will happen later at 6:00 PM. Finally, Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix will start off at 6:00 PM.

Overall, this seems like a much-needed move by F1, considering the substantial increase in physical and mental demands from the drivers in recent years. So, will these changes reduce the pressure that seems to be looming on the drivers and the teams?

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