About Bahrain Grand Prix 2024
“It’s lights out and away we go”, will be soothing the excited hearts of Formula 1 fans in Sakhir. The first race of the season will set the mood for the whole year. Bahrain is the ultimate playground, for the new toys each team will have developed over the winter break. The spectators are always eager to witness some “duels in the desert” as Formula 1 cars race under floodlights for the first time. The teams will dive straight in after 23 days of pre-season testing at the circuit.
Bahrain GP was the first Formula 1 race held in the Middle East. The race was immediately awarded by FIA for its smooth operation through the weekend. The Bahrain Grand Prix is considered one of the safest races of the F1 calendar, further emphasizing the incredible management of the race.
The 2023 season of Formula 1 gave birth to a new Formula 1 legend, known as Max Verstappen. SuperMax pummeled his way to victory in the driver’s championship and gave Red Bull one of their most memorable seasons, with 21 wins. The 2024 Formula 1 season is going to bring forward a huge clash between Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull. The latter will be trying to stop the other teams from closing the gap in dominance created last season.
Bahrain Grand Prix History
The Bahrain Grand Prix made its first appearance in 2004. The race organizers had to face tough competition against Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates for the event. It has become a regular race on the F1 calendar, with the exception of 2011. The first race at Bahrain was dominated by Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. The crowd also witnessed its first “duel in the desert”. Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Jaguar’s Mark Webber fought tooth and nail, providing a fine racing spectacle.
Bahrain Grand Prix is usually among the starting races on the Formula 1 calendar. However, despite the circuit having a knack for safety, it is one of the most controversial Formula 1 venues. The Bahrain GP has been riddled with protests from Human Rights Activists time and again. The protestors claim that the Bahraini government uses Formula 1 as an excuse to hide the poor treatment of citizens in the country. The protests led to the immediate cancellation of Bahrain GP in 2011.
The Bahrain Grand Prix of 2023 was won by Max Verstappen. His victory laid a foundation for the miraculous season the entire community was about to witness in the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 Schedule
The Bahrain GP weekend is scheduled from 29th February to March 2. There will be three practice sessions. Practice 1 and 2 will be held on 29th February and Practice 3 will be held on March 1. The qualifying session will be held on March 1st from 7:00 PM local time and the final race will be held on March 2nd, Sunday from 6:00 PM local time.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 Venue
The season's first race, Bahrain GP, will be held on the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir. The track was designed with utmost technicality by Hemann Tilke. Bahrain is a 5.4 km long circuit with large run-off areas. It is said that Turn-10 is the most challenging corner of the track being a fast left-hander.
The event comprises 57 las and races 308. 238 km in total. Bahrain’s circuit has 15 turns and 3 DRS zones. The lap record for the circuit is held by Pedro de La Rosa. He clocked a time of 1:31.447 in 2005. The fastest lap in 2023 was set by Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu. His time was 1:33.996.
Bahrain GP 2024 Driver’s Standings
The driver standings are going to be equal before the Bahrain GP as it is the first race of the season. The race’s spotlight would fall on the reigning champion Max Verstappen. The Dutch sensation will try to increase his tally of wins with another record-breaking season. The Practice sessions before Bahrain GP weekend and Free Practice will set the mood for the upcoming race. The fans would be looking forward to an exciting race between their favorite teams this year.
Drivers with the most wins in the Bahrain GP
The driver with the most wins at Bahrain is Mercedes legend and 7-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton. The Briton has won Bahrain GP 5 times. He is closely followed by the most loved driver of the grid, Sebastian Vettel who has won the race 4 times. Charles Leclerc’s win in 2022 made Ferrari the most successful team in the desert. They have 7 wins as a constructor.
Where to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2024
The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 will be broadcast, but Formula 1 hasn’t confirmed their official broadcaster yet. The fans can also follow live coverage and radio of drivers during the sessions with the Formula 1 TV app. Here is a list of some of the channels which will broadcast Bahrain GP 2024 in different countries:
| Country | Channel |
| Africa | SuperSport |
| Australia | Fox SportsFoxtelKayoNetwork Ten |
| USA | ESPN |
| United Kingdom | Sky SportsC4 |
| Germany | Sky Deutschland |
Bahrain Grand Prix race timings for different time zones
| Greenwich Mean Time | Pacific Standard Time | Indian Standard Time | Japanese Time | Arabian Standard Time | |
| Qualifying | 4:00 PM | 8:00 AM | 9:30 PM | 1:00 AM (next day) | 7:00 PM |
| Race | 3:00 PM | 7:00 AM | 8:30 PM | 12:00 AM (next day) | 6:00 PM |
FAQ's On Bahrain Grand Prix 2024
A. Yes, the Bahrain GP is a night race.
A. Bahrain is the first country in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 race.
A. The Bahrain GP curse happens to the winners of the race. Since the last few Formula 1 season, the winner of the race has gone on to become the runner-up in the Driver's Championship.
A. No, the consumption of Alcohol at Sakhir in the grandstands or general access areas is strictly prohibited.
A. Yes, Bahrain has plenty of tight corners which require heavy braking maneuvers.
