Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024
Event Overview
BIC is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, as the opening round of the 2024 season and its first-ever Saturday night race at the Home of Motorsport in the Middle East on 29 February to 2 March 2024.
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Hospitality
Due to exceptional demand, we have continued to expand our hospitality offerings. This year, we are delighted to offer The Dome Lounge by F1 Experiences, as well as The Champions Club, both tailor-made in response to the massive interest in hospitality options for the grand prix. In addition, the ultimate in world-class hospitality is available in The Paddock Cub Please note that Corporate boxes for 2024 are now sold out.
View MoreMax Verstappen leaves best for last as he tops the final day of F1 pre-season testing at BIC
Max Verstappen leaves best for last as he tops the final day of F1 pre-season testing at BIC
The chequered flag came down on Formula 1 Aramco Pre-season Testing 2021 tonight at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), and as the dust settled it was Max Verstappen who was quickest amongst the day’s 18 runners.
There was a tight battle for the top of the timesheet in the final hour of the afternoon session, which was held under BIC’s bright, state-of-the-art floodlights. At the end, Verstappen had the fastest time of one minute 28.960 seconds.
The Red Bull Racing driver posted the best lap for a second time in the three days of F1 pre-season testing. It was also the top mark overall this week at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”.
The stage is now set for the season-opening round of the 2021 FA Formula 1 World Championship, taking place at BIC March 26 to 28 with this year’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
Tickets to the race weekend are now available for all vaccinated or COVID-19 recovered individuals. They are on sale with a single discounted price of BD100 across stands for the three-day event.
Tickets can be purchased online at BIC’s official website, bahraingp.com, or at the BIC stand in City Centre Bahrain.
In today’s tests, Verstappen was able to complete 64 laps of work while going fastest in his RB16B car.
Teammate Sergio Perez had earlier set the best time during the morning session with a lap of 1:30.187.
Classified second-quickest for the day was AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda, who was just 0.093 seconds off of Verstappen’s pace. Tsunoda completed 91 laps in his AT02 challenger. Carlos Sainz put his Ferrari SF21 in third 0.651s behind first place while registering 79 laps.
Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth 0.806s back as he finished as the day’s busiest driver with 166 laps to his name. Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton followed in fifth for Mercedes 1.065s from the top with 54 laps, and George Russell of Williams was sixth 1.157s behind and 158 laps totalled.
Daniel Ricciardo (+1.184s) for McLaren and Perez’s morning best rounded out today’s top eight on the final classification.
Returning two-time world champion Fernando Alonso (+1.358s) finished ninth in his Alpine contender, while Charles Leclerc (+1.526s) in the second Ferrari car was 10th.
Eleventh through 18th, respectively, were Lando Norris (+1.701s), Pierre Gasly (+1.868s), Esteban Ocon (+2.350s), Nikita Mazepin (+2.571s), Mick Schumacher (+3.093s), Valtteri Bottas (+3.446s), Sebastian Vettel (+6.081s) and Lance Stroll (+7.140s).
The past three days’ running was the first time Bahrain hosted F1 pre-season testing since 2014, when it held two four-day tests. The Sakhir track had also hosted F1 in-season testing in 2017 and 2019.
The F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 will be the first of a record 23 rounds. Aside from the racing, fans can look forward to a wide array of fun activities at BIC’s F1 Village vending area, including a selection of wild outdoor rides and other attractions.
Comprehensive measures will be put in place at the circuit to ensure spectators can enjoy the excitement of F1 in a safe environment.
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