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10 - 12 April 2026
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX ROUND 4

Bahrain International Circuit

FP1Fri 10 Apr11:3012:30
FP2Fri 10 Apr15:0016:00
FP3Sat 11 Apr12:3013:30
QualifyingSat 11 Apr16:0017:00
RaceSun 12 Apr15:0017:00

SECTORS

TURNS

FIRST GP

2004

LAPS

57 CIRCUIT LENGTH

5.412 DISTANCE

308.238

Duelling in the desert

The Bahrain International Circuit is the Kingdom of Bahrain’s only racetrack. It was designed and built by Tilke GmbH in 2003, and hosted the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix in April 2004. The race has been a regular fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since then, with the exception of 2011.

The race’s atmosphere changed in 2014 when the floodlights went up and the start time moved to early evening, making it the first night race of the season. The circuit is surrounded by desert and frequently affected by strong winds, which hamper the balance of the car. Though an impressive track sweeper keeps the surface clear, dust in the atmosphere always concerns engineers, given its potential to increase wear on gearbox and engine internals.

The track provides a complex technical challenge for the teams. Downforce levels in Sakhir are relatively similar to those at Albert Park, but the emphasis at the Bahrain International Circuit is very much on brakes and tyres.

In terms of braking, BIC features several long straights heading into slow corners, so engineers keep a close eye on both temperatures and wear levels. For tyres, the abrasive surface provides good grip but also high wear – a factor that has frequently influenced the outcome of the grand prix. The stop-start nature of the circuit doesn’t endear it to drivers, but it’s delivered good races for spectators.

The circuit was the venue for Jenson Button’s 250th Grand Prix in 2014 and Lewis Hamilton’s first front-row start in 2007, but we had still yet to win or start a race from Pole in Bahrain, ahead of 2025. Oscar changed this with Pole on the Saturday and a brilliant victory on the Sunday. It was a meaningful first win at what is considered to be our second home Grand Prix.

Twilight racing 🌙🇧🇭

Bahrain GP

Get to know

Bahrain always makes for a good season opener due to its propensity for overtaking. The circuit is built for close racing throughout, but the moves tend to come after lengthy duels in one of two places: the braking zone at the end of the main straight and the right-hander at Turn 4, just a few corners later.

The following 11 turns are aimed at letting cars get close to one another in anticipation of making a move, with the particularly challenging tight, off-camber 10th turn often catching drivers out, which allows those behind the chance to catch up and those in front to dash off into the distance during the subsequent DRS zone leading up to Turn 11.

The weather conditions add another layer of interest and ask interesting questions of our drivers and our engineering team. The direction of the wind can change 180 degrees during the day, and this sees sand being blown on the track from the desert, affecting grip levels. The temperature and light levels can fluctuate as well, with the race starting at dusk and finishing in darkness under the floodlights.
Stuck for conversation with your F1-loving friends? Spark up a discussion with our F1 icebreaker…

Bahrain became the first Middle Eastern country to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2004, with a total of three circuit layout configurations - out of a possible five - used in the 20 years since.