Time to dust off those racing boots.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Formula 1 pre-season testing was great for getting rid of the cobwebs, and Drive to Survive scratched an itch, but nothing gets the motor running like real wheel-to-wheel competitive racing, and finally, after three long, agonising months, it’s back.

With less than a week separating the end of testing from the start of free practice, the seats are still warm in the MCL60, and the data fresh in our minds. We’ve hung back in Bahrain to complete our final checks and to get the thoughts of drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Team Principal Andrea Stella ahead of the season opener.

We realise it’s been a while, so to get you up to speed for the Bahrain Grand Prix, we’ve compiled all of the key info alongside their words of wisdom, some tips on what to wear and the key statistics.

Critical info

Round	1
Where	Bahrain International Circuit
When	3 - 5 March
Lights out	18:00 local / 15:00 MTC
Follow	TEAMStream and the McLaren App for LIVE commentary and team radio

From the cockpit 

“It’s finally race week and I can’t wait to jump back in the MCL60 and get on track. I’m entering my fifth season in Formula 1 now but I’m as excited as ever to go racing and get the season underway.

“Testing wasn’t without its challenges, but we’re working hard to continue to push ourselves forward to get back to where we want to be on the grid. We’ve learned a lot about the car, and we’ve already implemented some tweaks to optimise performance where we can.

“Thank you to the whole team for their work in building the MCL60 and the effort that’s gone into getting us racing. Let’s get the season underway.”

“I’m excited for my first race in Formula 1, and for it to be in papaya is really special. I’ve been waiting a long time for my Formula 1 debut, so it’s great that the moment is finally here.

“I’m feeling prepared for the challenges ahead and to get back on track in a competitive environment. It’s been a while since I last raced, so I’m itching to get going again. The work I’ve put in with the team over the past few months and the welcome I’ve had from McLaren and the fans has set me up well for the season ahead. I still have a lot to learn and some bits to get my head around with the MCL60. As a team, we’ve still got a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be, but I’m feeling optimistic for the season.

“I’m looking forward to the battles, the challenges and everything ahead of me as I properly kick start this journey. Let’s go racing.”

Duelling in the desert 

Sand and side-by-sides are guaranteed in Sakhir. The 5.412km circuit was built for wheel-to-wheel racing and is aplomb with overtaking opportunities. A long straight to the opening corner is immediately followed by two fast turns, which can lead to plenty of jostling at the start of each lap, especially when the lights first go out.

Turns 5 to 9 allow for a bit of settling down before the circuit’s most challenging corner: the low-speed, left-handed Turn 10. If drivers are chasing a competitor in front of them and get Turn 10 right, then a DRS zone awaits them on the straight leading up to Turn 11.

Overtaking might be easy, but racing isn’t. The drivers have to contend with wind, heat and the sunset, making the grand prix something of an assault on the senses. The race begins at dusk and finishes in total darkness under the floodlights – stunning for spectators but a challenge inside the cockpit with fluctuating temperatures and differing levels of light. On top of that, drivers have to wrestle with sand being blown across from the desert and onto the surface, which can negate its high level of grip.

Bahrain from the archives 

Last time out

We completed 312 laps across three days of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit and twice cracked the top 10. Although we’re not quite where we’d like to be, there are reasons to be positive. Updates are in the works, and Oscar enjoyed a productive first test, completing 170 of those laps as he adjusted to his new machinery. Meanwhile, Lando said it was “a big improvement from our test last year".

Team Principal Andrea Stella’s stewardship is still in its infancy, having stepped up from Executive Director, Racing, in December, but the Italian knows the team inside out and has a clear plan moving forwards, having spent the last two months immersing himself within every area of racing.

Setting the scene

Bahrain is of a similar size to Greater London but has plenty to offer away from the track – not only is it a great place to catch a tan, it has a rich cultural heritage and some spectacular sites, including the Al-Fateh Grand Mosque and the Qalat al Bahrain (also known as the Bahrain Fort). If you’re going, don’t forget to try their famous Arabic coffee and a plate of chicken machboos, a spiced chicken and rice recipe. 

From the pit-wall 

“After a busy off-season and a productive few days of testing, the whole team is looking forward to the first grand prix in Bahrain. We’re ready to go racing in an exciting year as we celebrate our 60th anniversary.

“The entire team has worked incredibly hard to deliver the MCL60, and my thanks go to them for their hard work and commitment in pushing through to prepare us for the season. We’ve got a long season ahead of us, 23 races and some challenges on the horizon, but we can count on an exciting new driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, a team of hard-working and talented people, a strong partnership with Mercedes HPP and the support of our commercial partners and our incredible fans. We feel the strength of this united team.

“It’s too early to make predictions about how the grid will shape up, but we have our sights set on reclaiming a place within the best four teams over the course of the year. We know it will be challenging, and we have a lot of work to do, but we’re optimistic about the season as a whole.”

Set your alarms 

Free Practice 1	03:30 PT / 11:30 GMT / 21:30 AET
Free Practice 2	07:00 PT / 15:00 GMT / 01:00 AET
Free Practice 3	03:30 PT / 11:30 GMT / 21:30 AET
Qualifying	07:00 PT / 15:00 GMT / 01:00 AET
Race	07:00 PT / 15:00 GMT / 01:00 AET

Stat pack 

• The 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix will be Oscar’s first Formula 1 race. The Australian won at the circuit in the 2021 Formula 2 Sprint Race 2
• The Bahrain GP will be Lando’s 83rd race start and the beginning of his fifth season in F1
• Lando started his 2018 F2 campaign with a Feature Race win at Bahrain
• We hold the lap record at the Bahrain International Circuit thanks to Pedro de la Rosa’s effort of 1:31.447 in 2005
• Lewis Hamilton’s first front-row start in F1 came at the 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix
• Hamilton’s P2 finish in 2007 is our best result in Bahrain
• Kimi Räikkönen climbed from 22nd to third in the 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix
• Three different track configurations have been used since BIC opened in 2004

The fit: Everyday basics

New season, new you. As we begin the 2023 campaign, we think it’s high time for a wardrobe refresh. Quality everyday basics should be a staple of every clothing collection, and we’ve just released a fresh range of them, including Oscar’s first McLaren line. Comfy but classy, these are the pieces you should build around.

No matter your style, we’ve got a papaya-coloured item for you: whether you’re a T-shirt or a polo person, or the hoodie or the quarter-zip type, and of course, you can layer it up with one of the shell jackets and a New Era Cap. 

Plus one

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Still not feeling prepared for the season ahead? Find out what we've been up to in the off-season by checking out the best features and videos from pre-season in the links below. 

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