What you need to know about the new Formula 1 season: calendar, teams, drivers

The upcoming week heralds the commencement of a new season in one of the swiftest and most opulent forms of motorsport, Formula 1.

This season will have the highest number of races in history - 24. All because of the return of the Chinese Grand Prix, after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which was cancelled last year.

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The Dailysports team has curated all the essential information for you regarding the schedule, teams, and drivers set to compete, along with presenting a list of favorites for this season.

Teams

Similar to recent years, the competition will host ten teams, each comprising two drivers. Among these, only one team is not based in Europe – Haas from the United States. The majority of teams hail from Britain – three in total.

Two teams have undergone changes. Alfa Romeo ended its collaboration with Sauber and exited Formula 1 in 2023, as Sauber gears up to become Audi's works team from 2026 onwards. The outfit was renamed as the Stake F1 Team, with the full name being Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, and the constructor was dubbed Kick Sauber.

AlphaTauri underwent a rebranding, initially appearing on the entry list under the temporary name AlphaTauri RB, before unveiling its official name as the Visa Cash App RB F1 Team. The team's aerodynamic operations have also relocated to Milton Keynes in the United Kingdom amid management restructuring.

It's worth noting that all teams this season will utilize tires supplied by Pirelli.

Drivers

The roster comprises two drivers for each of the ten teams. The championship title will be defended by Max Verstappen from Red Bull, for whom this victory marked his third in his career.

The most decorated drivers are Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, who have each clinched the championship title seven times throughout history. Among the current athletes, aside from Verstappen and Hamilton, Fernando Alonso boasts more than one title.

Calendar

The current Formula 1 season comprises a record-breaking 24 races. After a four-year hiatus, the Chinese Grand Prix returns, having been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The last race in the Middle Kingdom was held in 2019.

The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix makes its comeback to the competition calendar after being canceled last season due to floods in Italy.

It is worth noting that the Bahrain, Saudi Arabian, and Las Vegas Grands Prix will take place from Thursday to Saturday, unlike the other stages, which run from Friday to Sunday.

Additionally, it is important to remind that the Russian Grand Prix, which was scheduled for this season, was canceled by Formula 1 management due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Japanese Grand Prix, typically held in autumn, unexpectedly joins the early stages of the season and will take place in April, while the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, on the contrary, shifts to September instead of its usual slot in May.

The season kicks off on February 29th with the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the race itself taking place on March 2nd. The season will conclude in the United Arab Emirates on December 8th with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.