(Motorsports news) With the 2023 Formula 1 season coming to an end in Abu Dhabi, many people’s attention are now focused on the beginning of 2024. Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated the season, with a few teams, including McLaren and Ferrari, beginning to make improvements to their cars toward the conclusion. After its present title sponsorship expires in 2024, Alfa Romeo will have a new name. Before becoming the Audi Works team in 2026, the team is anticipated to rebrand itself as the Sauber brand in 2024.

In 2024, Red Bull’s junior squad, AlphaTauri, will likewise alter their name. They intend to go back to using their former Toro Rosso moniker, which is non-branded. There are rumors that the squad may now be known as Racing Bulls, even though the rebranding has not yet been confirmed. Even though there aren’t many significant changes for 2024, the championship will have its greatest year ever thanks to a brand-new, record-breaking 24-race schedule.

2024 F1 driver line-up:

As we begin the new season, the majority of the 2023 Formula One grid remains unchanged. With many of their contracts set to expire at the end of 2024, every team has continued to use their former drivers. Rookie driver Logan Sargeant’s Williams seat is the only one that is still up for grabs, but the team is certain that it will remain with the American for the upcoming season.

Following the departure of Nyck de Vries from AlphaTauri in the middle of 2023, Daniel Ricciardo has also confirmed his spot there. The notion that Ricciardo would be added to the squad for the next season has been refuted, as has the speculation that Sergio Perez might also lose his spot at Red Bull after a challenging midseason. Even if the grid remains the same from the second half of the previous season, 13 of the 20 seats could be up for grabs at the end of 2024, making it a more intriguing season.

When does the Formula One preseason testing take place?

Pre-season testing for Formula One in 2024 will get underway in Bahrain on February 21. The teams will test over three days in advance of the first grand prix the following week. Additionally, the FIA disclosed that pre-season testing will now take place daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., as opposed to 7:30 p.m. as it did in 2023. The testing sessions are scheduled to occur in Bahrain in order to support the FIA’s deliberate efforts to increase the series’ sustainability.

This implies that between pre-season testing and the inaugural grand prix of the year, there won’t be a need to transport the vehicles and equipment. After the FIA lowered the timings from 7:30 pm, testing will now take place between 10 am and 7 pm.

2024 F1 car launch dates:

Although the dates for the 2023 season’s automobile launches fell between January 31 and February 16, 2024 car launches have not yet been confirmed. Teams may reveal their vehicles a little earlier than they did the previous season when pre-season testing starts on February 21 (two days earlier than in 2023) instead of February 21.

2024 F1 regulation changes:

Regulations pertaining to the testing of vintage cars have been modified by the FIA, which now mandates that any parts tested have to have been utilized at a race weekend. The Sporting Regulations’ Article 10.2 C now reads, “Cars must only use components and software of a specification that have been used in at least one (1) competition or TCC (testing of a current car) of a championship season.”

Teams won’t be able to attempt to earn any date outside of testing limits by running any brand-new components on an outdated car, thanks to the regulation change.

Are the Formula 1 sprint races seeing any modifications?

Teams and managers are in favor of the Formula 1 plan to alter the sprint race format for 2024. Although changes have not yet been decided upon, more talks with the FIA are scheduled for January. These discussions may entail a total redesign of the weekend schedule or the use of a reverse grid arrangement. The race will no longer have a separate qualifying session that determines the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, among other changes to the six sprint weekends in 2023.

However, teams had to follow parc ferme regulations starting with Friday’s FP1 since the grand prix and qualifying were now held on Fridays. In an effort to decide on a new structure for 2024, F1 and the teams have started talking. One idea is to move Sunday’s grand prix qualifying back to Saturday afternoon, with the sprint race taking place first.

After FP1, on Friday, the sprint shootout qualifying would take place, setting the grid for the sprint race. With this modification, parc ferme conditions might be reopened following the sprint race, giving teams time to make any necessary adjustments before qualifying.

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