Formula 1 adapts 2024 race calendar to reduce environmental impact

Aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the race series, Formula 1 has announced a move towards greater calendar regionalisation, reducing logistical burdens and making the season more sustainable.

Announcing the calendar for next year’s 24 race series this week, Formula 1 has shifted a number of races with the Japanese race moving to April from its usual date in the Northern Hemisphere autumn while the race in Qatar will run back-to-back with the season ending Abu Dhabi race.

Suzuka is now placed between the Australian GP in Melbourne and the Chinese race in Shanghai - which returns to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since the pandemic.

Later in the season, the Azerbaijan GP will be twinned with Singapore in September. However, the move towards greater regionalisation has been slowed by Canadian organisers resisting attempts to twin the Montreal race with Miami in May.

With a stated target of becoming net zero by 2030, organisers say the new calendar “creates a better flow of races in certain regions” and that “this work will continue while being realistic to the fact that as a world championship, with climatic and contractual constraints, there will always be travel required that cannot be completely regionalised.”

The organisation continued in a statement “Formula 1 has made clear its intention to move towards greater calendar regionalisation, reducing logistical burdens and making the season more sustainable.”

With a record 24 races, the season will begin on 29th February in Bahrain and then Saudi Arabia, with both those races to be held on Saturdays to accommodate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Speaking of the 2024 Formula 1 calendar announcement, Stefano Domenicali, President and Chief Executive of Formula 1, advised “I am delighted to announce the 2024 calendar with 24 races that will deliver an exciting season for our fans around the world. There is huge interest and continued demand for Formula 1, and I believe this calendar strikes the right balance between traditional races and new and existing venues.

“I want to thank all of the promoters and partners for their support and effort to achieve this great schedule. Our journey to a more sustainable calendar will continue in the coming years as we further streamline operations as part of our Net Zero 2030 commitment. We have plenty of racing to look forward to in 2023, including the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, and our fans can look forward to more excitement next season.”

FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem added “the planned 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, that has been approved by the Motor Sport Council Members, demonstrates some important steps towards our shared goals.

“We want to make the global spectacle of Formula 1 more efficient in terms of environmental sustainability and more manageable for the travelling staff who dedicate so much of their time to our sport. Stefano Domenicali and his team have done a great job to both bring in new and exciting venues in emerging markets for Formula 1, and stay true to the sport's long and remarkable heritage.”

Image: The Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.