Race Facts – Bahrain Grand Prix

Be taught extra concerning the historical past of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which grew to become the primary Components 1 race held within the Center East in 2004.

Bahrain Worldwide Circuit (often known as “Sakhir”) was designed by Hermann Tilke and in-built simply 16 months at an estimated price of $150m USD. The tarmac of the observe is made out of imported graywacke combination from Shropshire, England. The primary race in 2004 was received in dominant style by Michael Schumacher within the Ferrari F2004.

The circuit has quite a lot of layouts for various occasions. Components 1 has raced on three variations of the circuit, with all however one Bahrain Grand Prix going down on the Grand Prix Circuit structure of the observe.

For 2010, organisers determined to make use of the ‘endurance’ structure of the circuit to have a good time Components 1’s diamond anniversary. The lengthened observe was met with detrimental response from the drivers and was by no means used once more in F1. In 2020, the Sakhir Grand Prix was held on the shorter, and quicker, Outer Circuit.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was first held below floodlights in 2014 partly to supply a greater spectacle and extra comfy situations for spectators, but in addition to offer the race a greater time slot with essential TV audiences in Europe.

The observe has a seating capability for 45,000 spectators, together with 10,500 in the primary pit straight grandstand. The circuit additionally encompasses a distinctive 8-storey VIP tower. In keeping with the circuit’s web site, there are over 4700 workers working on the circuit on Grand Prix weekend, together with 1800 police & safety workers, 600 observe marshals and 25 docs.

Two Races in 2020

In 2020, Bahrain Worldwide Circuit hosted two rounds of the championship as a way to enhance the variety of races in a season which had been closely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Bahrain Grand Prix, wherein Romain Grosjean made headline information with a miraculous escape from an horrific crash, was held on the finish of November.

One week later, the Sakhir Grand Prix came about, with Sergio Perez recording his maiden win. The second race was additionally notable for the absence of Lewis Hamilton, who had examined optimistic for coronavirus. George Russell impressed as he took Hamilton’s seat, and was in rivalry for the win till a late race puncture.

Each the Bahrain and Sakhir Grands Prix had been held behind closed doorways, although native well being staff had been invited to spectate within the grandstands in recognition of their efforts in the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

F1 to Race in Bahrain Till 2036

The Bahrain Grand Prix moved to the season-opening slot in 2021 – a place which it occupied once more in 2022 and 2023. In February 2022, race organisers signed a contract extension, protecting Bahrain Worldwide Circuit on the Components 1 calendar till no less than 2036.

The 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix attracted a file race day crowd for the occasion, with 98,000 in attendance over the three-day weekend. The file was damaged once more with a sell-out race on the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, with 36,000 attending on race day and improved once more in 2024, with 37,000 attending the twentieth anniversary occasion.

Bahrain Grand Prix: Did You Know?

Lewis Hamilton holds the file for many wins on the Bahrain Grand Prix. He took a fifth win on the occasion in 2021. Hamilton shares the file for many poles in Bahrain with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. All three drivers have taken pole thrice.
In 2022, Charles Leclerc took Ferrari’s seventh victory in Bahrain. The Scuderia have held the file for many Bahrain Grand Prix wins because the inaugural occasion in 2004.
Bahrain is considered one of solely a handful of present F1 circuits at which McLaren haven’t but recorded a victory.
Kimi Raikkonen completed on the rostrum eight instances in Bahrain however by no means received the race.

After the 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton had been all equal on factors on the high of the championship. The final time that three drivers had been tied on the high of the Drivers’ Championship was in 1950, after the Indianapolis 500.
Native protests impressed by the Arab Spring resulted within the race being postponed in 2011. The race had been rescheduled for later within the yr, however was finally cancelled.
Lower than half of the races held at Bahrain Worldwide Circuit have been received from pole. Simply 10 of the 21 races on the observe have been received from the very entrance of the grid. The furthest again win right here was for Sergio Perez within the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. He began fifth.
Together with his victory within the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, Sergio Perez grew to become the primary driver to win an F1 race having been final on the finish of the opening lap.
Sebastian Vettel recorded the one Did Not Begin (DNS) of his F1 profession right here in 2016 when his Ferrari engine failed on the formation lap. In 2022, he missed the race after testing optimistic for coronavirus. It was the primary race weekend he missed because the 2007 European Grand Prix.

Memorable Moments on the Bahrain Grand Prix

2006: Raikkonen’s Restoration Drive

Kimi Raikkonen was eradicated in Q1 in Bahrain in 2006 after a suspension failure. Beginning on the very again of the sector in twenty second, McLaren positioned the Finn on a one-stop technique. With a mixture of technique and his high-quality overtaking abilities, Raikkonen completed in third place behind Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, who had an epic battle for the lead all through the Grand Prix. Watch the highlights.

It was Alonso who got here out on high, barging previous Schumacher after his second pit-stop. Notably, the race was additionally the primary look for future World Champion Nico Rosberg. He set the quickest lap of the race, changing into the youngest driver to take action on the time.

2008: Kubica and Sauber’s Solely Pole

Robert Kubica took the one pole place of his profession at Sakhir in 2008. He additionally grew to become the primary Polish driver to begin a Grand Prix from the entrance of the grid, in addition to marking Sauber’s solely pole place to this point in Components 1. Kubica lapped simply 0.027s quicker than Felipe Massa, which remained the smallest margin pole was taken by in Bahrain till 2017. Kubica was unable to transform pole into victory, ending the race in third as Massa took the win. Watch the highlights.

2010: Alonso’s First Ferrari Win

The 2010 F1 season started in Bahrain amidst loads of intrigue with new groups, new driver line-ups and the return of Michael Schumacher after a three-year absence. Whereas Sebastian Vettel set the tempo in qualifying, spark plug points on his Purple Bull slowed him down and Fernando Alonso was capable of capitalize, taking victory on his first look with Ferrari. Watch the highlights.

The 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix marked solely the sixth time a driver had received on their Ferrari debut. It was a day to recollect for the entire staff too, as Felipe Massa completed as runner-up on his first look since his accident on the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

2014: Duel within the Desert

The 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix is seen as the place to begin of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s bitter rivalry as Mercedes team-mates. The race, which was the 900th F1 Grand Prix, noticed Rosberg begin from pole. Hamilton obtained the higher begin nevertheless, and led the opening phases. The pair scrapped for place earlier than the primary pit-stops with Hamilton finally remaining forward and thus being given the privilege of the primary cease.

The Security Automobile was known as out later, after Esteban Gutierrez’s Sauber rolled as the results of a collision with Pastor Maldonado. The Security Automobile interval prompted an exciting conclusion to the race as Rosberg, nonetheless behind Hamilton, was now on the quicker tyre compound. There was little the German may do although, and after extra wheel-to-wheel battles Hamilton received the race, equaling Juan Manuel Fangio’s tally of Grand Prix victories. Watch the highlights.

2019: Leclerc’s Unfortunate Night

Charles Leclerc moved to Ferrari for his second season in Components 1 and impressed by taking pole place on solely his second outing with Ferrari on the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix. Regardless of dropping the result in his team-mate Sebastian Vettel within the opening phases, the Monegasque driver was quickly again on the entrance of the sector and regarded unchallenged for victory because the occasion reached its closing phases.

Nevertheless, luck was not on Leclerc’s aspect. He was denied his maiden win by engine points. He was overtaken by each Mercedes drivers, earlier than a late race Security Automobile meant he was capable of salvage a maiden podium end from a disappointing night below the floodlights. Watch the highlights.

2020: Grosjean’s Miraculous Escape

Romain Grosjean was fortunate to flee a terrifying crash on the opening lap of the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Making contact with Daniil Kvyat via the opening corners, Grosjean’s Haas left the circuit at near 200km/h earlier than crashing into the boundaries. Going via the boundaries, the automobile break up in two and set alight within the 67G impression. Grosjean was saved by the halo system and was capable of take away himself from the burning automobile.

Already confirmed to be leaving Haas on the finish of the season, this was Grosjean’s final look in Components 1. He suffered burns and was discharged from hospital three days after the race. He started his IndyCar profession within the following yr. Watch the dramatic incident.

2020: Perez’s Maiden Win

Two races had been contested at Bahrain Worldwide Circuit in 2020, with the one-off Sakhir Grand Prix following one week on from the Bahrain Grand Prix. The occasion was held on the shorter ‘Outer Loop’ structure of the observe.

George Russell changed Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, with the reigning champion having examined optimistic for coronavirus forward of the race. Russell impressed all weekend, narrowly lacking out on pole and overtaking team-mate Valtteri Bottas at Flip 1. Russell led many of the race however pit cease points put him out of rivalry for victory.

As an alternative victory went to Sergio Perez – which appeared unlikely on the finish of Lap 1, on condition that he was behind the sector after being concerned in a collision. Perez’s win was the primary for a Mexican driver in 50 years. Watch the highlights.