Everything you need to know about the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will open the F1 2023 calendar.
Data from the Bahrain Grand Prix (March 3-5, 2023)
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Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit
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Length: 5,412 kilometers
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First Grand Prix: 2004
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First winner: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
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Driver with most wins: Lewis Hamilton (5)
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Team with the most victories: Ferrari (7)
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Fastest lap: Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren) – 1:31.447
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Editions held: 18 as the Bahrain GP, 1 as the Sakhir GP
The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix has been held at the Bahrain International Circuit (almost) uninterrupted since its debut on the calendar in 2004. This track, located in the Sakhir desert, was designed by the famous German architect Hermann Tilke, and it became the first F1 race held in the Middle East.
Built in just 18 months at a cost of 150 million dollars, the Bahrain International Circuit hosted its first qualifying event for the Formula 1 World Championship on 04/04/2004. It was the third round of the season, after Australia and Malaysia, and the winner was exactly the same in the first two races: Michael Schumacher.
Since its premiere on the calendar, the Bahrain Circuit has had different variations in its layout.
Initially, it had a length of 5.417 kilometers, which was reduced by five meters for the 2006 edition after modifications in turn four and which, with the exception of the use of a wider configuration in the resistance circuit configuration in 2010 ( 6,299 km), has been maintained over time.
It is a circuit that usually offers entertaining races, with many battles on the track and numerous overtaking. Since the race is held at night (2014), under artificial light, in addition, the teams and drivers must find a good balance for the set-up due to the variations in temperature between the different sessions.
However, with the usual holding of pre-season training sessions, the teams already have the situation under control.
One of the great challenges – in addition to the wind and the desert sand, which accompanies the drivers throughout the lap -, is turn 10, closed, downhill and without bank, while turn 1 we usually see numerous overtaking and also touches.
It will also be necessary to watch the limits of the track, which can generate controversy such as that of 2021, when Verstappen lost the victory by having to let Hamilton pass after gaining an advantage on the outside.
Since 2004, the only time we have seen Bahrain off the F1 calendar was in 2011, when the race, which was due to open the World Cup as it had done in 2010, was canceled due to riots in the country.
Another notable event in the history of this circuit is that, in 2020, Bahrain hosted two F1 Grands Prix, one on the usual track and the other on the outside, in a season marked by the impossibility of running the full calendar due to COVID -19.
Bahrain, which has also hosted championship races such as the World Endurance or Touring Cars throughout its history, will continue to be present on the calendar until 2036, after signing a long-term renewal with the premier category of motorsports.
F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Winners
- 2004 – Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
- 2005 – Fernando Alonso (Renault)
- 2006 – Fernando Alonso (Renault)
- 2007 – Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
- 2008 – Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
- 2009 – Jenson Button (Brawn GP)
- 2010 – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
- 2012 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
- 2013 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
- 2014 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2015 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2016 – Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
- 2017 – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
- 2018 – Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
- 2019 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2020 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2021 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 2022 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
GP Bahrain F1 2023 schedule
Friday March 3
- Free Training 1 – 12:30 p.m.
- Free Training 2 – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday March 4
- Free Training 3 – 12:30 p.m.
- Classification – 16:00h
Sunday March 5
- Race – 4:00 p.m.
Where to watch the 2023 Bahrain F1 GP?
The Bahrain Grand Prix, like all the races on the 2023 F1 calendar, can be seen live on the DAZN streaming platform. This is the only legal way through which you can follow the premier class races in our country for another year.
To access DAZN’s sports offer (including, among other competitions, F1 and MotoGP), you have to hire one of the packages it offers, including the most basic one offered by motor competitions, such as “DAZN Essential”, which costs €18.99. The “DAZN Total” package, which also includes football, costs €29.99.
