P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A big change was made to the schedule to accommodate the holy event of Ramadan this season.
Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grand Prix organizers are discussing a permanent calendar shift with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali due to the positive impact of their weekend timetables this year. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was moved to Saturday and paired with Bahrain to allow enough time between races as Ramadan began on March 10. Both events held qualifying and the race on Friday and Saturday, receiving positive feedback. Bahrain GP CEO Sheikh Salman bin Isa al-Khalifa mentioned the success of the weekend and economic impact would lead to talks with Domenicali for a permanent change. Initial discussions have taken place, with further talks scheduled to make the switch to Saturday permanent for the Saudi Arabian GP. Whitaker emphasized the benefits of running events on weekends in the Middle East, ensuring easier travel for teams and creating a more festive atmosphere for fans. The success of both the Saudi Arabian GP and Bahrain GP this year has reinforced the belief that a permanent weekend shift could be beneficial for the races.
