In 2024, all drivers who finished the 2023 campaign will return, and no new tracks will join the schedule. The technical regulations won’t change much either. This doesn’t mean there aren’t various other changes that will take place.
Team changes
Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri are both going through name changes. Alpha ended its title sponsorship of Sauber. It announced that it will be known as ‘Stake F1 Team’ in 2024. This is leading up to the transition to becoming Audi’s factory team in 2026.
AlphaTauri will have a new name in 2024. It will collaborate more closely with Red Bull under new leadership. Speculation about the new name is that it will be ‘Racing Bulls.’
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Adjustments to sprint format
Adjustments are likely to be made to the Sprint weekend format. The Sprint format in 2023 caused several problems. Cars would enter Parc Ferme after qualifying for the Grand Prix after having only 60 minutes of practice. This locked them into a setup for the rest of the weekend.
In the U.S., Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc faced disqualification from the second and third week. This was due to excessive plank wear. It may have been the result of not enough practice running to determine ride height. Sprint format changes and an increase in the number of testing days for tires are likely to take place ahead of the six sprints in 2024.
Race calendar
The 2024 season will feature 24 races, including the return of the Chinese Grand Prix and the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. China will host its first race since 2019. In 2023, there were meant to be 24 races, but Covid restrictions caused China to cancel. The Emilia Romagna GP at Imola was also called off due to extensive rainfall. The outdoor adventures and international status of Formula 1 would add additional pressure to a disaster area. The Japanese Grand Prix will move to April, and the Qatar Grand will be the penultimate race of the season.
Rules regarding protests change
After the U.S. Grand Prix in 2023, Haas submitted a right of review request. New evidence was available regarding track limit violations in Austin that had not been penalized. The case was thrown out by the FIA. However, they decided to move the time frame for submissions to 96 hours. This would help prevent uncertainties about race results long after they take place. The FIA has also introduced a fee that’s refundable only if a request is valid. Flares and fireworks are banned from FI events without prior permission.
Hot conditions
Of all the sporting events in 2024, the Qatar Grand Prix could be one of the most challenging for drivers. It took a toll last year on their health due to the physically demanding track and the lack of wind for cooling in very hot conditions. Drivers experienced dehydration, vomiting, and loss of consciousness behind the wheel. The FIA mandated that every car must have a cooling scoop to channel more air to drivers in 2024. Other options are also under discussion.