Why Is the Saudi Arabian GP Happening on Saturday and Not Sunday?

A typical Formula 1 non-sprint race weekend revolves around three days: Friday to Sunday. The first two days are dedicated to practice runs and the qualifying session, which sets up the grid for the race on Sunday. However, what sets the 2024 season apart is its unique start, with not one but two races kicking off the action on a Saturday. Last weekend we had the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, March 2nd. This weekend again, we have the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on a Saturday. So why the Saturday start instead of the usual Friday to Sunday weekend structure?

Well, it all comes down to Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. As Ramadan begins on March 10th, the Saudi Arabian GP, originally scheduled for Sunday the 10th, had to be moved up a day to Saturday night to accommodate the religious observance. And because Formula 1 rules dictate at least a week’s gap between races, the Bahrain season opener also had to shift, landing on the Saturday prior.

As a result, everything moves forward by a day. Free practice sessions take place on Thursday, with qualifying following on Friday, leading directly into the race on Saturday. But the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs aren’t the only ones getting a Saturday race in 2024. The Las Vegas Grand Prix in November is also slated for a Saturday race. This decision was made keeping in mind the significant time difference with Europe. Racing on Saturday ensures better viewing figures globally, avoiding early Monday morning races in Europe.

READ MORE: 2024 Saudi Arabian GP: Full Schedule for the F1 Race at Jeddah

With the qualifying set for today in the evening, what does the grid look like after the first day of practice in Saudi Arabia?

Fernando Alonso topped FP2 in Jeddah in qualifying and race-like conditions

In the afternoon first practice session, Max Verstappen led the pack, showcasing impressive speed early on. However, it was Fernando Alonso who stole the top spot in the second practice. The session started after a slight delay, but once underway, drivers wasted no time hitting the track, eager to get a feel for the conditions similar to what they’ll experience during the race on Saturday night.

Alonso set a blistering pace with a lap time of 1 minute 28.827 seconds. This put him ahead of George Russell by 0.230 seconds, with Verstappen closely following in third place. As the session progressed, drivers switched to long runs in order to simulate race conditions, leaving Alonso’s lap time unchallenged for the evening. Behind him, Russell and Verstappen battled for second and third place, with Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez also posting competitive times.

Despite receiving a warning for exceeding track limits, Lance Stroll impressed for Aston Martin coming in at 6th and half a second behind his teammate. Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top 10, each showcasing their skills on the challenging Saudi Arabian circuit.

Further down the standings, Yuki Tsunoda led the Visa Cash App RB’s charge in 11th place, followed closely by Lando Norris and Zhou Guanyu. Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon, Logan Sargeant, and the two Haas’ battled for the final 7 positions, while Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas finished towards the back of the pack.

Can Fernando Alonso stick his car on pole position tonight in Saudi Arabia? Share your predictions in the comments down below.