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 MoreVerstappen maintains strong pace to top FP2 timesheet in F1 Bahrain GP weekend at BIC
Verstappen maintains strong pace to top FP2 timesheet in F1 Bahrain GP weekend at BIC
- Zhou captures pole for F2 Feature Race, Beckmann for first Sprint
- Simmenauer leads Porsche second practice under lights
Max Verstappen continued his strong start to the 2021 Formula 1 season by setting the pace this evening in the Second Practice of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
Verstappen registered a fastest lap of one minute 30.847 seconds to put Red Bull Racing atop the timesheet for back-to-back sessions around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix track.
He posted 23 laps under BIC’s bright lights.
McLaren also had a fine first day in Sakhir, as Lando Norris was second on the classification after going just 0.095secs off Verstappen’s pace.
Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton was third 0.235s from the leader, getting things off on the right foot for Mercedes as they begin a title defence for the eighth straight year.
Carlos Sainz (+0.280s) for Ferrari was fourth-quickest, Valtteri Bottas (+0.371s) in the other Mercedes fifth, and Daniel Ricciardo (+0.383s) for McLaren sixth.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (+0.447s) and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (+0.546s) were seventh and eighth, respectively.
The rest of the Second Practice classification order, from ninth to 20th, respectively: Pierre Gasly (+0.636s), Sergio Perez (+0.656s), Esteban Ocon (+0.754s), Charles Leclerc (+0.765s), Antonio Giovinazzi (+0.893s), Sebastian Vettel (+0.922s), Fernando Alonso (+0.923s), Kimi Raikkonen (+1.015s), George Russell (+1.484s), Mick Schumacher (+2.450s), Nicholas Latifi (+2.553s) and Nikita Mazepin (+2.602s).
The F1 action resumes Saturday with the Third Practice, starting at 3pm. It will also be held over an hour.
Zhou captures pole for F2 Feature Race, Beckmann for first Sprint
Guanyu Zhou captured pole position today for Sunday’s Feature Race in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, being held at Bahrain International Circuit as part of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 weekend.
The Uni-Virtuosi driver clinched the leading grid position after topping the Qualifying timesheet held in the afternoon with a fastest lap of 1:42.848. This follows the revised format for start grids that have been put in place from this 2021 F2 campaign.
David Beckmann, who finished Qualifying in 10th, will be on pole for Saturday’s first of two Sprint Races, also in accordance with F2’s new rules. The grid for Saturday’s second Sprint will then be determined by reversing the top 10 finishers of the first Sprint Race.
Beckman, competing with Charouz Racing System, had a fastest lap of 1:43.559 to take the leading grid place for F2’s season-opening race.
Finishing behind Zhou in Qualifying, and joining him as the leading three starters for Sunday’s Feature, were Christian Lundgaard with a best lap of 1:42.851—just 0.003s behind Zhou—and Felipe Drugovich at 1:43.211.
Saturday’s first 23-lap Sprint race is scheduled for a 1.25pm start.
Simmenauer leads Porsche second practice
Championship leader JB Simmenauer was quickest in the second practice session this evening of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, held under floodlights at BIC.
Simmenauer had a fastest lap of 2:03.871, pipping Ayhancan Guven for the top spot. Guven had a fastest lap of 2:03.912.
First Practice leader Jesse Van Kuijk came third with a best lap of 2:04.603.
The Porsche runners now head for Qualifying on Saturday, scheduled or a 12.15pm start.
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