Bahrain GP

• Track features

  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.

• What's it like in Bahrain?

  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.

• Stat pack

  • Oscar won at the circuit in the 2021 Formula 2 Sprint Race 2
  • 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