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BIC to begin welcoming fans on Thursday for Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026
BIC to begin welcoming fans on Thursday for Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026
- BIC’s gates to be open from 11am to 7pm on all four open days to fans
- Tickets to each open day of the F1 tests cost BD10 for adults and BD5 for children
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, begins welcoming the public on Thursday (12 February) for Formula 1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026.
Thursday will be the first of four open days to fans, who will be the first in the world to witness in person the next generation of F1 cars in action ahead of the start of the 2026 FIA F1 World Championship.
The six-day tests got underway today at BIC. They have been split into two three-day sessions, with the first continuing until Friday (13 February) and the next taking place from 18 to 20 February.
Friday’s action will also be open to the public, as will the test days on 19 and 20 February.
BIC’s gates are scheduled to open at 11am and close at 7pm on all four days.
F1’s superstar drivers and their teams are already busy trying to maximise their track running and gather valuable data ahead of the top flight’s highly anticipated ‘new era’, featuring a host of transformative new regulations around a brand-new, more agile F1 car.
All 11 F1 teams are in the Kingdom and the open days will also be the first opportunity for fans in Bahrain and worldwide to see the brand-new Cadillac F1 Team on track, joining reigning back-to-back F1 Constructors’ World Champions McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Williams, Haas, Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Alpine, and Audi for their debut season in motorsport’s top flight.
All those attending testing will also be able to enjoy a series of off-track attractions, including dynamic racing simulators, a Batak reaction game, and a stick catching game.
The racing simulators offer motorsport enthusiasts the chance to step into the world of speed and adrenaline and feel every turn and acceleration along an F1 track in a virtual setting.
The Batak and stick catching games will be putting fans’ reflexes to the test, challenging hand-and-eye coordination in a pair of activities that F1’s superstar drivers practice regularly to keep their skills razor sharp.
Aside from these, fans visiting BIC will also have the chance to see a display of the new 2026 F1 car in its special Bahrain livery.
Tickets per the open days of F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026 cost BD10 for adults and BD5 for children.
There is also free access on both open days of the second Bahrain test on 19 and 20 February for all who purchased their tickets to the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 before 8 September last year.
To buy tickets or to get more information, visit the circuit’s official website bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000.
BIC is also offering exclusive hospitality packages during the tests, featuring the best views of the action along with incredible, five-star cuisine and beverage selection. The hospitality lounge is located right above the F1 pit lane. Full details on BIC’s hospitality offerings are available on bahraingp.com. The packages can be booked online or by calling +973-17451086.
This year’s F1 pre-season tests mark the sixth consecutive year that Sakhir is hosting F1’s most important preparation period ahead of the new world championship. Testing was first held in Bahrain in 2009 and then again in 2014. They have since taken place in Bahrain each year from 2021.
The pre-season tests will pave the way for the start of the new season in Australia from 6 to 8 March. The F1 battles will continue with races in China and Japan before heading to the Kingdom for the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 from 10 to 12 April – the fourth round of the 24-race world championship.
Tickets to the grand prix weekend are selling fast, with seats to the Turn 1 Grandstand already completely sold out and the Main Grandstand already 98 per cent sold. Tickets are also selling out quickly for the Beyon Grandstand, University Grandstand, and Victory Grandstand.
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