What will change in Formula 1 in 2024?

Just over two more months of patience and the time will come: on 2 March, drivers will be at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix and, with it, the 2024 Formula 1 season. The new year will see a number of changes made by F1 and the FIA, as well as by two teams. Read here what is changing in the new F1 season.

Changes to F1 in 2024

Red Bull Racing's sister team, AlphaTauri, will undergo a name change in 2024. Although the new identity will not be announced until the new year, there are rumours that the team will be called Racing Bulls. The FIA's registration list simply says 'RB' - although no conclusions can be drawn from this, it could indicate that the rumours are true.

Alfa Romeo will also get a new name in 2024. The Swiss team will return to the Sauber name, before being renamed Audi's factory team in 2026. However, there is still some uncertainty about the exact team name and the sponsors that will be part of it. On that, the F1 team recently shared a cryptic statement.

F1 drivers 2024

The F1 grid as we know it today will not change at the start of the new season. However, it does look slightly different from the start of the 2023 season. Daniel Ricciardo is guaranteed his place at AlphaTauri after the team showed Nyck de Vries the door in mid-2023. However, 2024 does promise to be an interesting year in terms of F1 seats, as many drivers will see their contracts expire after next season.

2024 F1 calendar

The 2024 F1 season starts on 29 February and will feature a record 24 races. The FIA has moved a number of races on the calendar to reduce travel movements. For instance, the Japan Grand Prix will be moved from its usual spot in the autumn to April.

The Chinese GP returns to the F1 calendar in 2024 after being scrapped for four years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Qatar GP will be the penultimate race of the season, which should make transportation to the final race in Abu Dhabi easier. The later date should also help against the extreme heat the drivers faced in 2023.

Changes to F1 regulations 2024

The FIA made a number of changes to the rules around testing old cars, stipulating that all parts used must have been previously used during a race weekend. This change ensures that teams cannot use brand new parts on an old car to try to get around the testing restrictions. Also, teams are not yet allowed to start working on their cars for 2026, when the new engine regulations take effect.

Solution to extreme heat after GP Qatar

Following the extreme heat and several drivers becoming unwell during and after this year's Qatar GP, the F1 commission has approved a change to the technical regulations. This will allow teams to install an air shaft in the cars to direct more air into the cockpit.

Adjustments to F1 sprint races

The FIA has announced an update to the format of the sprint races ahead of next year. This follows persistent complaints about the format of the sprint weekend, with qualifying for Sunday already taking place on Friday. This also immediately puts the parc fermé into effect, allowing hardly any testing for the rest of the weekend. The governing body says the sprint sessions will be better separated from those associated with the Grand Prix, although no details are yet known of what this will look like.

F1 testing in 2024

At the request of F1 tyre supplier Pirelli, the number of testing days organised by the FIA for Pirelli has been increased from 35 to 40 days. In addition, four days will be dedicated to wet tyre testing. This will give teams the chance to help Pirelli develop new intermediates and wet tyres, which were subject to criticism from drivers last year. They are also working on a solution to reduce spray and thus improve drivers' visibility in wet conditions.

In addition, the number of kilometres teams are allowed to cover during so-called film days, on which F1 teams often carry out their shakedowns prior to the first winter test, will be doubled from one hundred to two hundred. However, teams must spread the kilometres over the two permitted filming days to avoid covering the full distance in one day.

'Right to review' procedure adjusted by FIA

The FIA has changed the procedure for the right to review, which F1 teams use to challenge decisions. The period in which such a request can be made is shortened from 14 days to 96 hours. A fee must also be paid, which will only be refunded if the request is declared valid. Furthermore, the FIA has significantly increased the maximum amount of fines, with a maximum of €1 million for Formula 1.

Smoke flares and fireworks banned

From 2024, the FIA will include an outright ban on 'pyrotechnic products' in the International Sporting Code. This will mean " any object containing exothermic substances or an exothermic mixture of substances designed to produce a calorific, luminous, sound, gas or smoke effect, or a combination of these effects, including but not limited to flares, smoke bombs and fireworks.