Method 1 returns for the beginning of its 2024 season, which begins within the Sakhir desert with the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix on February 29 – March 2. Right here’s all the things you have to know forward of attending the season-opening race weekend!
Photographs: © F1Destinations
Bahrain is host to Method 1’s season opening Grand Prix as soon as once more in 2024. It’s the sixth time that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been the opening race of the season. It first hosted the season-opener in 2006, earlier than doing so once more in 2010 on the longer Endurance format of the observe.
Bahrain has hosted the primary race of the yr in every of the final three seasons – however 2024 could possibly be the final time it is going to achieve this for some time, with the timing of Ramadan prone to influence on the start of subsequent yr’s calendar.
On account of Ramadan in 2024 (which begins on March 10), the Bahrain Grand Prix will happen on a Saturday, permitting F1 to carry a double header of races within the area earlier than the spiritual interval is noticed. It implies that the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend will run on a Thursday to Saturday schedule.
In 2022, Bahrain Worldwide Circuit signed a prolonged contract extension which retains the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Method 1 calendar till no less than 2036 – the second longest contract for any present circuit. 2024 marks the twentieth operating of the Bahrain Grand Prix because it joined the Method 1 calendar in 2004 as the primary Grand Prix occasion within the Center East. Race organisers could have quite a few particular occasions lined as much as have fun the 20-year anniversary weekend.
Evening racing on the Bahrain Grand Prix
With a inhabitants of round 1.5 million – a rise of 700,000 for the reason that sport first visited in 2004 – Bahrain is likely one of the extra liberal Muslim international locations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Luxurious and unique, the nation provides a temperate local weather.
The race has been held at night time since 2014, which means trackside temperatures are far more manageable for the drivers and spectators alike. Daytime temperatures hover round 25°C throughout March and you can be sheltered from the solar for the daytime observe motion, because of the entire circuit’s grandstands being lined. Temperatures drop as little as 18°C when the race takes place beneath the lights.
Heading to Bahrain for the primary time? All of the important journey data you want may be present in Journey Fundamentals.
Attendance figures on the rise on the Bahrain Grand Prix
The Bahrain Grand Prix has one of many lowest attendances on the calendar, with lower than 100,000 followers visiting the circuit over race weekend. The low attendance figures are partly because of the comparatively low capability of the circuit, which is just 70,000. That’s a profit for followers trackside, who will face much less queueing time and fewer overcrowding than on the busier races on the calendar.
In 2019, 97,000 followers had been current for the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, which was a brand new document determine for the occasion. When followers returned to the observe for the primary time in three years for the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, the Sunday attendance determine was 35,000 – one other new document. Final yr, attendance grew once more with a race day crowd of 36,000 and an general weekend attendance of 99,500.
Worldwide ticket gross sales proceed to be on the rise on the Bahrain Grand Prix. In 2023, the circuit reported that a lot of its grandstands had offered out prematurely of the race weekend, on account of a rise in worldwide ticket gross sales.
But to safe tickets for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix? Tickets for the race weekend stay out there in our ticket store and ticket packages through F1 Experiences – F1’s official ticket bundle accomplice – are nonetheless on sale.
The Bahrain Grand Prix provides among the most inexpensive F1 tickets
The Bahrain Grand Prix’s rising attendance determine could partly be attributed to the truth that the occasion provides among the most cost-effective tickets of any race on the Method 1 calendar. On common, tickets for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix value $265. Common ticket costs for Bahrain didn’t improve between the 2023 and 2024 races. Solely the Chinese language, Hungarian and Japanese Grands Prix provide cheaper tickets than Bahrain Worldwide Circuit.
It’s a very spectacular statistic, provided that the Bahrain Grand Prix doesn’t provide normal admission passes; which means all tickets assure you a spot in one of many grandstands. Bahrain’s Victory grandstand, positioned on the finish of the straight earlier than the ultimate nook, was the second-cheapest grandstand at any observe on final yr’s calendar. Tickets within the circuit’s major grandstand reverse the pits are additionally properly priced comparative to different circuits, being the fourth most cost-effective of the yr.
Tickets are comparatively inexpensive for native followers too. In 2023, a 3-day ticket for the Bahrain Grand Prix value solely 8.29% of the common month-to-month wage – behind solely Singapore, Canada, Japan, Australia and Qatar.
We estimate that the common fan will spend round $800 USD on a visit to the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix. That determine contains 3-day grandstand seats, a 3-night keep in a Manama lodge, plus each day spending cash.
Take a look at our Funds Planner for the lowdown on what you possibly can anticipate to spend on a visit to the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Trackside on the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
There’ll be loads of on observe motion at this yr’s Bahrain Grand Prix. In addition to this being the opening spherical of the 2024 Method 1 season, feeder collection Method 2 and Method 3 can even start their seasons.
There’ll be two races in each F2 and F3: a Dash Race on Friday and a Characteristic Race forward of the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday. Additional help races are but to be introduced, however there have been two Porsche Dash Cup Center East races over final yr’s occasion weekend. The total on observe schedule for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix can be listed right here when out there.
The excellent news for three-day ticket holders is {that a} Pit Lane Stroll often takes place on the day earlier than the on-track motion begins (which can be Wednesday February 28 in 2024). From 19:00 to twenty:30, you might be often in a position to discover the pit lane and get a glimpse of the garages forward of the primary race of the season. In case you’re fortunate, you might even spot a driver or two! Particulars of the Pit Lance Stroll for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix haven’t but been introduced.
Plenty of fashionable music acts have carried out on the Bahrain Grand Prix lately, together with Afrojack, DJ Don Diablo, DJ Snake and Craig David. Live performance headliners for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix haven’t but been introduced however the trackside live shows are anticipated to return this yr. The stage is positioned within the F1 Fan Zone, behind the primary grandstand, which can be a hive of exercise when the observe falls silent and is the place yow will discover group merchandise. You may as well anticipate driver appearances on the primary stage – doubtless on Thursday and Friday – although particulars haven’t but been revealed.
Exploring the encircling space
Taxi, Uber or rent automobile are probably the most handy methods to get to and from the circuit over the weekend. The organizers additionally provide free shuttle buses from ten lodges to the circuit and again. Discover extra journey data and recommendation on our Getting There and Round web page.
In case you’re staying for longer than simply the race weekend, there’s a wealth of issues to do within the space. From historic forts and museums, to distinctive eating experiences and tropical island getaways, be sure you benefit from your go to! We’ve rounded up the perfect locations to go in your Bahrain Grand Prix journey in Off-Observe Actions.
