Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Autosport
Autosport
Sport

F1 Saudi Arabian Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more

The Red Bull driver secured his 34th career F1 pole and his first in Saudi Arabia with a flawless qualifying performance at the Jeddah Corniche circuit – both his Q3 laps were quick enough to bag top spot.

Charles Leclerc split the Red Bulls to join Verstappen on the front row for a sixth consecutive race, as Sergio Perez was shuffled back to third place.

Oliver Bearman qualified 11th as stand-in for Carlos Sainz in the sister Ferrari after the Spaniard was ruled out with appendicitis.

However, once again the major focus is off-track after Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko admitted he might be suspended after the Saudi Arabian GP. Verstappen has reacted to the comments and called Marko “an important part in my decision making” for his future.

When is the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?

Date: Saturday 9 March 2024
Start time: 8pm local time/5pm GMT

The second round of the 2024 F1 season, the Saudi Arabian GP, gets under way at 8pm local time on Saturday 9 March.

The entire Saudi Arabian GP weekend has shifted forward by one day compared to its regular schedule due to Ramadan starting on Sunday 10 March.

Oliver Bearman, Scuderia Ferrari, in the garage (Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images)

How can I watch Formula 1?

In the United Kingdom Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with highlights shown on Channel 4 several hours after the race has finished. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK.

Sky Sports F1, which broadcasts the F1 races, can be added as part of the Sky Sports channels which costs £18 a month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.99p or a month membership of £34.99p per month.

How can I watch the F1 Saudi Arabian GP

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will be live broadcasting the Saudi Arabian GP.

The race will be shown live on Sky Sports F1, with pre-race coverage starting at 3:30pm GMT, ahead of the race start at 5:00pm GMT.

Channels: Sky Sports F1
Start time: 3:30pm GMT, Saturday 9 March 2024

Autosport will be running a live text coverage of the Saudi Arabian GP here.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24 (Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images)

When can I watch the F1 Saudi Arabian GP highlights?

In the United Kingdom Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of the Saudi Arabian GP at 7:50pm GMT on Saturday. The full programme will run for two and a half hours, covering the pre-race, the race highlights and the initial post-race reaction to wrap up the major talking points of the race weekend.

For the entire 2024 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. The highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on demand catch up services.

Channel: Channel 4
Start time: 7:50pm GMT, Saturday 9 March 2024

Will the F1 Saudi Arabian GP be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2024 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra stations, the BBC Sounds app and the via the BBC Sport website.

Live coverage of the Saudi Arabian GP will start at 5:00pm GMT on the BBC Sport website and on the BBC Sounds app.

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Team VCARB 01, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, out of the it lane (Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images)

Weather forecast for the F1 Saudi Arabian GP

Current weather forecasts predict dry and mild conditions in Jeddah, with moderate winds and a low chance of rain. The temperature is expected to be 26 degrees Celsius for the start of the race.

How many laps is the F1 Saudi Arabian GP?

The race is scheduled to complete 50 laps of the Jeddah Corniche circuit, covering a total race distance of 308.450km.

F1 Saudi Arabian GP starting grid

   
1
 - 
3
   
   
1
 - 
2
   
Cla Driver # Chassis Engine Time km/h
1 Netherlands M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1 Red Bull Red Bull

1'27.472

254.097
2 Monaco C. Leclerc Ferrari 16 Ferrari Ferrari

+0.319

1'27.791

253.174
3 Mexico S. Perez Red Bull Racing 11 Red Bull Red Bull

+0.335

1'27.807

253.127
4 Spain F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing 14 Aston Martin Mercedes

+0.374

1'27.846

253.015
5 Australia O. Piastri McLaren 81 McLaren Mercedes

+0.617

1'28.089

252.317
6 United Kingdom L. Norris McLaren 4 McLaren Mercedes

+0.660

1'28.132

252.194
7 United Kingdom G. Russell Mercedes 63 Mercedes Mercedes

+0.844

1'28.316

251.669
8 United Kingdom L. Hamilton Mercedes 44 Mercedes Mercedes

+0.988

1'28.460

251.259
9 Japan Y. Tsunoda RB 22 RB Red Bull

+1.075

1'28.547

251.012
10 Canada L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing 18 Aston Martin Mercedes

+1.100

1'28.572

250.941
11 United Kingdom O. Bearman Ferrari 38 Ferrari Ferrari

+1.170

1'28.642

250.743
12 Thailand A. Albon Williams 23 Williams Mercedes

+1.508

1'28.980

249.790
13 Denmark K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team 20 Haas Ferrari

+1.548

1'29.020

249.678
14 Australia D. Ricciardo RB 3 RB Red Bull

+1.553

1'29.025

249.664
15 Germany N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team 27 Haas Ferrari

 

 
16 Finland V. Bottas Sauber 77 Sauber Ferrari

+1.707

1'29.179

249.233
17 France E. Ocon Alpine 31 Alpine Renault

+2.003

1'29.475

248.409
18 France P. Gasly Alpine 10 Alpine Renault

+2.007

1'29.479

248.397
19 United States L. Sargeant Williams 2 Williams Mercedes

+2.054

1'29.526

248.267
20 China Z. Guanyu Sauber 24 Sauber Ferrari

 

 
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.