Formula 1 is heading to Bahrain for the second race of a series of three races in quick succession. Unlike the previous race in Suzuka, Bahrain is known for having plenty of opportunities for overtaking.
Max Verstappen has closed the gap to Lando Norris in the driver standings and is now just one point behind after three races. However, Red Bull and Ferrari are still working to catch up with McLaren`s performance.
The weather forecast for the weekend in the desert is typical: hot and sunny conditions are expected from Friday to Sunday, with daytime temperatures reaching 36°C and low winds. Night temperatures should drop to around 22°C.
Latest News
- Is overtaking a problem in F1, or is Bahrain the perfect track to solve it?
- After winning the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen joked that he would have been invisible if he had been driving a McLaren.
- Isack Hadjar recovered from a difficult start to the season and scored his first points for RB at the Japanese Grand Prix. He also mentioned he would be ready for Red Bull if they called.
- Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli quickly showed his talent by leading a Formula 1 race and setting the fastest lap, finishing sixth for Mercedes in Japan.
- Was Verstappen`s victory in Japan one of his best ever? Red Bull`s boss Christian Horner thinks so.
- Listen to a preview of the race and the latest episode of ESPN`s F1 podcast “Unlapped” with Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson from Bahrain.
Circuit Stats and History
Construction of the Bahrain International Circuit began in 2002. Like many other tracks, it was designed by Hermann Tilke. With a large desert area to work with, similar to Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, the Sakhir circuit was designed from scratch to be a fast, winding track with tight hairpin turns and lots of chances to overtake.
The track can be challenging due to the wind in the open desert and the changing temperatures throughout the day, as the race takes place in the evening.
Bahrain also experiences rain sometimes. Preseason testing earlier in the year was affected by cool temperatures and occasional rain.
Ferrari and Mercedes have both been very successful here, each with six wins. Ferrari`s Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa won in the early years, while Mercedes dominated during the era of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. If Red Bull wins again this weekend, they will tie with Ferrari and Mercedes in wins at this track.
Bahrain Grand Prix Facts
- First race: 2004.
- Laps: 57 laps of 5.4km. Total race distance 308km.
- Lap record: 1:31.447, set by Pedro de la Rosa in 2005.
- Most wins: Lewis Hamilton holds the record with five wins (2014-2015, 2019-2021). Among current drivers, Fernando Alonso has three wins (2005-2006, 2010), Charles Leclerc has one (2022), and Max Verstappen has two (2023-2024).
- Most pole positions: Hamilton, Verstappen, and Sebastian Vettel are tied with three pole positions each. From the current grid, Leclerc (2022) and Alonso (2005) have also started on pole here.
- What makes it special: Since becoming a night race in 2014, the Bahrain International Circuit has provided exciting racing. It was also the first track in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 race in 2004.
- Driver quotes: Lewis Hamilton says, “It`s a track where you can really push, and it`s great for racing with so many overtaking zones.”
Last Year`s Race
In the previous Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull achieved a one-two finish. Max Verstappen won dominantly, and Sergio Perez finished second, ahead of Carlos Sainz.
Red Bull also secured pole position, the fastest lap, and the race victory in a dominant performance.
Race Predictions
Bahrain has historically been a difficult track for McLaren, but they appeared strong during preseason testing.
McLaren cars still seem to be performing at a high level. Oscar Piastri, in particular, will be motivated to prove why McLaren should support him in the developing rivalry with Verstappen.
Championship Standings
Despite only winning one of the first three races, Max Verstappen is just one point behind Lando Norris, the championship leader.
McLaren is leading the constructors` championship by 36 points over Mercedes. McLaren was one of only two teams that kept their driver lineup unchanged for 2025, which may have contributed to their strong start to the season, as other teams are still trying to catch up.
