2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch, storylines, track details, and more

Formula 1 returns to the track this week, as the teams are in Bahrain for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the 2024 season. Following a week of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, now the lap times count for real.

This year is shaping up to be a transformative year for F1. The stunning announcement that Lewis Hamilton was leaving Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of 2024 is set to ignite an explosive driver transfer market. With more than half the grid — 13 drivers to be exact — set to see their contracts lapse at the end of the season, driver movement might be the biggest story of the year.

That, and the lingering question over whether anyone can catch Max Verstappen.

It all gets underway this week. Here is how to watch, and what to watch for.

In addition, you can stream the Bahrain Grand Prix and much, much more on F1TV. With an F1TV subscription fans can watch practice sessions, cycle through driver onboard cameras, watch F2 and F3 practices, qualifying, and feature races, and gain access to exclusive F1TV content. Shows on F1TV include “Jolyon Palmer’s Analysis,” “Tech Talk” with Sam Collins, “Weekend Warm-Up,” and more.

There is Bahrain International Circuit, site of last week’s pre-season testing. As you can see from the above circuit map, courtesy of F1.com, the layout in Bahrain combines a number of different elements, which makes it perhaps the ideal location for testing. The circuit contains a number of long straights, most notably the straight coming out of Turns 14 and 15, through the start/finish line, and into Turns 1, 2 and 3. The circuit has three DRS zones as well.

For more on the circuit, you can ride along as Alpine driver Pierre Gasly takes you on a tour of Bahrain International Circuit:

Here are some of the major storylines heading into the first race of the season.