Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023: Timings in India, how to watch

Formula 1 returns with the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which will take place from Friday March 17 to Sunday March 19. The third edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the 2023 edition is the second race on the calendar, after a dominating start by Red Bull Racing in Bahrain in early March. While Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen hope to build on their initial success in the 2023 F1 season, close rivals Ferrari and Mercedes have faced setbacks which they hope to overcome at Jeddah’s Corniche circuit this week-end.

Notably, Formula 2 also returns for its second round of the 2023 season this weekend, which will take place at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, alongside Formula 1 race sessions. Indian Kush Maini, currently in his rookie season with Campos Racing, sits fourth in the standings after the season-opening race in Bahrain. Meanwhile, second Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, competing for MP Motorsport, is currently 11th in the championship.

Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023: How to watch in India

With Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar no longer showing F1 live in India, fans in the country can only watch races and live racing sessions on the F1 TV app with the Pro subscription. The subscription gives access to all sessions and shows, as well as the feeder series, so you’ll be able to watch F1 and F2 this weekend with the app and subscription.

2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: India timetables

Practice 1: Friday, March 17, 7 p.m. (IST)

Practice 2: Friday, March 17, 10:30 p.m. (IST)

Practice 3: Saturday March 18, 7 p.m. (IST)

Qualifying: Saturday, March 18, 10:30 p.m. (IST)

Race: Sunday, March 19, 10:30 p.m. (IST)

2023 Formula 2 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: India timetables

Training: Friday, March 17, 4:25 p.m. (IST)

Qualifying: Friday, March 17, 8:30 p.m. (IST)

Sprint Race: Saturday, March 18, 8:40 p.m. (IST)

Featured Race: Sunday, March 19, 7:05 p.m. (IST)

Saudi Arabia F1 Grand Prix 2023: What to expect

Max Verstappen enters the second round of the season at the top of the drivers’ standings, with Sergio Perez in second, after a Red Bull Racing dominating 1-2 in Bahrain in early March. Fernando Alonso, who finished third in Bahrain, is hoping to take advantage of his surprisingly competitive Aston Martin F1 car to try and claim his first race win since 2013. The veteran Spanish driver and two-time world champion is competing in his 20th full F1 season this year, at the age of 41.

Ferrari had a difficult start to the 2023 season, with Charles Leclerc retiring from the car due to mechanical failure, and Carlos Sainz Jr. losing third place after being overtaken by Alonso. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell could only secure 5th and 7th place respectively, as Mercedes struggle to find competitiveness in the car heading into 2023. Jeddah’s tight street circuit might suit better some teams, as they hope to close the gap with Red Bull. Races.

Interestingly, Red Bull India hosted the Showrun in Mumbai on March 12, with former F1 driver and 13-time race winner David Coulthard driving the Red Bull RB7 car along the Bandra Bandstand promenade in front of thousands of fans. The RB7 is the same car that won the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship in 2011, and Red Bull India had also previously provided a car assembly showcase where the RB7 was assembled and fired up for viewers in attendance.