F1 races which were not held on a Sunday

In Formula 1 history, there have been 74 rounds of the World Championship which have not been held on a Sunday. The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was the first not to be held on a Sunday in almost 40 years. Which other races were not held on a Sunday – and why?

THE LAST F1 RACE NOT HELD ON A SUNDAY

The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was the first Formula 1 race to be held on a day other than Sunday in almost 40 years, as well as the first Saturday night race in Formula 1 history.

Prior to last year’s Vegas race, the last F1 Grand Prix which did not take place on a Sunday was the 1985 South African Grand Prix, which took place on a Saturday.

The South African Grand Prix was traditionally held on a Saturday, with a few exceptions. The Kyalami race did not take place on a Sunday until 1992, with the final two races at Kyalami in 1992 and 1993 falling into line with other Grands Prix on the calendar.

After close to 40 years with races only taking place on a Sunday, the 2024 season will feature no fewer than three Saturday races. As a result of the timing of Ramadan in 2024, both of the first two Grands Prix of the year – in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – will take place on Saturdays. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will also take place on a Saturday night for a second successive season.

THE LAST F1 RACE NOT HELD ON A WEEKEND

The 1972 Spanish Grand Prix was the last race which was not held on a weekend. The race, held at Jamara, took place on a Monday, with opening practice taking place on Saturday. The 1972 Spanish Grand Prix is one of nine World Championship events which took place on a Monday.

Three of the other races which were held on a Monday were the Indianapolis 500 – in 1954, 1955 and 1958. The race was a round of the World Championship between 1950 and 1960, though it was not run to Formula 1 regulations. The Dutch Grand Prix was also held on a Monday in 1958, 1960 and 1961. These races coincided with Whit Monday, which was a public holiday in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the South African Grand Prix took place on a Monday in both 1967 and 1968.

F1 RACES HELD ON SATURDAY

The majority of Formula 1 races which were not held on a Sunday have taken place on a Saturday, with 58 races taking place on Saturdays prior to the start of the 2024 season. As well as the current incarnation of the Las Vegas Grand Prix , the previous two races held in Las Vegas – the 1981 and 1982 Caesars Palace Grands Prix – also took place on Saturdays.

In fact, the very first round of the World Championship – the 1950 British Grand Prix – took place on Saturday 13th May. Saturday was the day on which every British Grand Prix until 1976 was held. From 1976, the British Grands Prix which were held at Brands Hatch (in 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982) switched to Sunday, while the Silverstone events continued to be run on Saturdays. The 1983 British Grand Prix was the last British race to be held on a Saturday.

The South African Grand Prix was never held on a Sunday for any of its World Championship appearances until 1992. In addition, the Indianapolis 500 was held on a Saturday in 1953 and 1959, while the 1959 United States Grand Prix – the only F1 race which was held at Sebring International Raceway in Florida – also took place on Saturday.

Four other races were held on a Saturday: the 1969 and 1982 Dutch Grands Prix, the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix and the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Generally, races were held on a Saturday in hopes of attracting larger crowds. This was especially the case at the 1982 Zandvoort race, which was held on a Saturday to avoid a TV clash with 1982 FIFA World Cup football matches and the Wimbledon finals.

F1 RACES HELD ON OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK

In total, there have been only seven rounds of the World Championship which took place on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Six of those were the Indianapolis 500 in 1950 (Tuesday), 1951 & 1956 (Wednesday), 1957 (Thursday) and 1952 & 1958 (Friday).

The only World Championship Grand Prix which did not take place on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday was the 1965 South African Grand Prix, which took place on New Year’s Day in 1965, which fell on a Friday. With practice beginning on the Wednesday, it is one of few World Championship meetings which spanned two different years. The 1967 and 1968 South African races are also in the same club.

FULL LIST OF F1 RACES WHICH DID NOT TAKE PLACE ON A SUNDAY

Below is a full list of World Championship F1 races which did not take place on a Sunday. The list includes the Indianapolis 500, when it was held as a round of the World Championship between 1950 and 1960.

RaceTrackDay of Grand Prix
1950 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1950 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayTuesday
1951 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayWednesday
1951 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1952 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayFriday
1952 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1953 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySaturday
1953 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1954 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayMonday
1954 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1955 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayMonday
1955 British Grand PrixAintreeSaturday
1956 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayWednesday
1956 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1957 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayThursday
1957 British Grand PrixAintreeSaturday
1958 Dutch Grand PrixZandvoortMonday
1958 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayFriday
1958 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1959 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySaturday
1959 British Grand PrixAintreeSaturday
1959 US Grand PrixSebringSaturday
1960 Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayMonday
1960 Dutch Grand PrixZandvoortMonday
1960 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1961 Dutch Grand PrixZandvoortMonday
1961 British Grand PrixAintreeSaturday
1962 British Grand PrixAintreeSaturday
1962 South African Grand PrixPrince George CircuitSaturday
1963 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1963 South African Grand PrixPrince George CircuitSaturday
1964 British Grand PrixBrands HatchSaturday
1965 South African Grand PrixPrince George CircuitFriday
1965 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1966 British Grand PrixBrands HatchSaturday
1967 South African Grand PrixKyalamiMonday
1967 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1968 South African Grand PrixKyalamiMonday
1968 British Grand PrixBrands HatchSaturday
1969 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1969 Dutch Grand PrixZandvoortSaturday
1969 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1969 Canadian Grand PrixMosport ParkSaturday
1970 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1970 British Grand PrixBrands HatchSaturday
1971 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1971 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1972 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1972 Spanish Grand PrixJamaraMonday
1972 British Grand PrixBrands HatchSaturday
1973 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1973 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1974 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1974 British Grand PrixBrands HatchSaturday
1975 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1975 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1976 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1977 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1977 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1978 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1978 Swedish Grand PrixAnderstorpSaturday
1979 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1979 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1980 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1981 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1981 Caesars Palace Grand PrixCaesars PalaceSaturday
1982 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1982 Dutch Grand PrixZandvoortSaturday
1982 Caesars Palace Grand PrixCaesars PalaceSaturday
1983 British Grand PrixSilverstoneSaturday
1983 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1984 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
1985 South African Grand PrixKyalamiSaturday
2023 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip CircuitSaturday
2024 Bahrain Grand PrixBahrain International CircuitSaturday
2024 Saudi Arabian Grand PrixJeddah Corniche CircuitSaturday
2024 Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip CircuitSaturday

This article was originally published in March 2022 and has since been updated.

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