Bahrain
NEED TO KNOW
GET UP TO SPEED WITH THESE FACTS AND STATS
FIRST GRAND PRIX:
2004
TRACK LENGTH:
5.412 KM
LAP RECORD:
1:31.447
Pedro de la Rosa (2005)
MOST WINS:
5
LEWIS HAMILTON
MOST POLE POSITIONS:
3
SEBASTIAN VETTEL, LEWIS HAMILTON & MAX VERSTAPPEN
PIT STOP
TIME LOSS:
(including 2.5s stationary)
POLE RUN TO TURN 1
BRAKING POINT:
OVERTAKES COMPLETED
IN 2024:
SAFETY CAR
PROBABILITY:
VSC
PROBABILITY:
TRIVIA
Turn 1, ‘Michael Schumacher’, is the only corner on the circuit with a name
THE DRIVER'S VERDICT
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault F1 driver
The most challenging part of the Bahrain track is probably braking into Turn 10 because you’re approaching it with a fair amount of speed from the Turn 8 hairpin and through the Turn 9 kink, and you unload the front-left tyre as you’re turning left. It’s easy to lock up, we’ve seen that so many times.
Turn 11 is also crucial because it’s fast; it can be quite wind-affected there as well, the gust can pick up, and you’re going through a long radius, so getting the balance right I think is particularly tricky.
If you’re pushing with understeer you can’t get on the throttle; if you’re fighting oversteer, it’s difficult because you’re attacking with a lot of speed and then you’re overheating the rear tyres through the high-speed afterwards as well.
Overtaking opportunities are clear here: into Turn 1 and Turn 4, where the two DRS zones end. But there is another challenge in the transition from day to night. The track comes alive at night, the car works so much better – and one qualifying lap under the lights feels amazing.
2024 WINNER
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2023 WINNER
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2022 WINNER
CHARLES LECLERC (FERRARI)
2021 WINNER
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2020 WINNER
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2024 POLE POSITION
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2023 POLE POSITION
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2022 POLE POSITION
CHARLES LECLERC (FERRARI)
2021 POLE POSITION
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2020 POLE POSITION
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
CURRENT FORM
What can be expected going into the Grand Prix weekend?
After McLaren led the way during the first two rounds of the season, things took an interesting turn last time out in Japan when Max Verstappen converted his surprise pole position into a sublime victory, the Dutchman becoming the third different winner of the campaign in the process.
As well as acting as a reminder not to rule the reigning World Champion out – despite Red Bull seemingly not having a car to match some of their rivals – this result has had a big impact on the picture in the Drivers’ Championship, with Verstappen now just one point away from leader Lando Norris.
While a 2-3 result was certainly not a disappointment for McLaren at Suzuka, the papaya team will be keen to get back on the top step this weekend – yet the Bahrain International Circuit is one that the squad have never won at before.
Elsewhere, Mercedes remain the closest challengers in the Teams’ standings, though Verstappen’s success in Japan has brought Red Bull closer in third place. The Milton Keynes-based outfit will be hoping that new recruit Yuki Tsunoda can help them to their first double points finish of the season so far in Sakhir.
Ferrari, meanwhile, have ground to make up in fourth, while there is little to choose between the midfield teams in a close battle that has seen all but Alpine score during the opening three rounds. Can the Enstone-based squad get off the mark this weekend?
ICONIC MOMENT
Mercedes' infamous 'Duel in the Desert'
The Bahrain Grand Prix has witnessed plenty of iconic moments during its 20+ years on the calendar, but perhaps one of the most memorable was the epic battle between then Mercedes team mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2014 that has gone down in history as the ‘Duel in the Desert’.
Just three Grands Prix into the new turbo-hybrid era, Hamilton and Rosberg’s wheel-to-wheel exchange on opposing strategies thrilled fans at the track and on sofas around the world, while also setting the scene for a fierce rivalry in the races and years to come.
