F1: Bahrain Grand Prix

As Sir Lewis Hamilton signs off at Mercedes, Sky Sports' Rachel Brookes previews F1's longest-ever season

LIVE MOTORSPORT Saturday, race starts 3pm, Sky Sports F1 & Sky Sports Main Event

The new Formula One season begins this week as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen seeks a fourth consecutive world title after the Dutch driver dominated 2023 with a record-breaking 19 wins in 22 races.

The season starts in Bahrain – with the Grand Prix taking place on a Saturday due to Ramadan – and for the first time in F1 history, the first race of the new season will have the same line-up as the last race of the previous one, with no drivers retiring or switching teams.

Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo has switched to their original name, Sauber, while Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri, is now called Visa Cash App RB.

We caught up with Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes to hear what’s in store…