The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit will break with tradition by running the main race on a Saturday rather than the usual Sunday. Both PlanetF1 and Crash.net explain that the change is driven primarily by the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on 10 April and runs through mid‑May, overlapping with the Grand Prix weekend.
During Ramadan, many businesses and public services in Azerbaijan adjust their operating hours to respect fasting hours. The race organisers, in consultation with the FIA and the local authorities, decided to move the race forward by a day to avoid clashing with the evening Iftar meals and the associated traffic congestion that typically spikes on Fridays and Saturdays. By holding the race on Saturday, the event can finish earlier in the day, allowing fans and staff to return home before the sunset fast‑break.
In addition to religious considerations, the shift helps with logistical planning. The Baku circuit is a street track that relies on the city’s infrastructure being cleared of regular traffic. Running the race on Saturday reduces the strain on the city’s transport network, which would otherwise be heavily used on a Friday evening as residents head home for the weekend.
For India: The Saturday race will start at 15:00 GMT, which translates to 20:30 IST. Indian viewers can catch the live action on FanCode, which holds the streaming rights for the 2024 season. The earlier start also means the race finishes around 22:00 IST, well before midnight, making it more convenient for fans who prefer to watch without staying up late.
While the Saturday format is unusual, it is not unprecedented; the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix also ran on a Saturday due to similar cultural considerations. The change underscores Formula 1’s growing sensitivity to host‑nation customs and its willingness to adapt the calendar for local audiences.
Source: PlanetF1
