| Bahrain International Circuit | |
| Race information | |
| Laps | 49 |
|---|---|
| Circuit length | 6.299 km (3.914 mi) |
| Race length | 308.405 km (191.634 mi) |
| Number of times held | 7 |
| First held | 2004 |
| Most wins (drivers) | Fernando Alonso (3) |
| Most wins (constructors) | Ferrari (4) |
| Last race (2010): | |
| Pole position | Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:54.101 |
| Podium | 1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1h 39m 20.396s (186.272 km/h) 2. Felipe Massa Ferrari +16.099s 3. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes +23.182s |
| Fastest lap | Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:58.287 |
The Bahrain Grand Prix (Arabic: جائزة البحرين الكبرى) is a Formula One Championship race which first took place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 4 April 2004.
The Bahrain Grand Prix, sponsored by Gulf Air, made history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.
The inaugural race was given the award for the "Best Organised Grand Prix" by the FIA.[1]
The Bahrain Grand Prix has usually been the third race of the Formula One calendar. However, in the 2006 season, Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the Australian Grand Prix, which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games. Bahrain staged the opening race of the 2010 season.
The 2011 Grand Prix, due to be held on 13 March, was cancelled on 21 February because of the 2011 Bahraini protests.[2] The race was canceled for 2011 after drivers including Damon Hill and Mark Webber protested.[3]
The FIA had planned to reschedule the race to October, but Bernie Ecclestone dispelled that notion in a BBC Sport interview: "Hopefully there'll be peace and quiet and we can return in the future, but of course it's not on. The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants - they're the facts." '[4]
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The building of the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir was started in 2002 with high domestic interest about the project as it gave a future to the next generation of Bahraini racers. By the completion of the project, the circuit soon outshone the Kuwait Circuit and became the center of motor sport in the Persian Gulf, as it held many other races such as drag races, GT races, Formula 3 races and the Australian V8 Supercar series.
The first race was in 2004 and it was won by German driver Michael Schumacher for Ferrari. Fernando Alonso won the second Bahrain Grand Prix for Renault in 2005, and then became the first repeat winner of the Middle Eastern race in 2006 (again for Renault), after a thrilling race-long battle with Michael Schumacher. In 2007 and 2008, Brazilian Felipe Massa won the race for Ferrari. 2009 saw Jenson Button win for Brawn GP. Alonso became the first three-time winner after his 2010 triumph.[5]
The 2010 race saw a new circuit configuration being used for the Grand Prix. It used the "Endurance Circuit" layout, extending the lap length to 6.299 km (3.914 mi).[6] The new track turns left shortly after Turn 4, the right-hander at the top of the hill following the first sequence of turns. There is then a sequence of five turns before the cars head back to the original circuit. Then comes a left-right kink before a tight hairpin returns the cars onto the main track.[6] The track would have reverted to its original layout for the 2011 race.[7]
On 21 February 2011 the race was postponed due to the 2011 Bahraini protests.[2][8] World champion racer Damon Hill called on Formula One not to reschedule saying that holding the race in the “blood-soaked” kingdom would be “on a par with sporting tours that chose to play in apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.”[9] Formula One announced cancellation of the race for 2011.[3]
A characteristic of the course is the giant run-off areas, which has been criticised for not punishing drivers who stray off the track, although this has made Bahrain one of the safest tracks in the world, and tends to prevent sand getting onto the track.
The drivers do not spray the traditional champagne on the podium, although alcoholic beverages are legal in Bahrain, in contrast to neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Instead, they spray a non-alcoholic rosewater drink known as Waard.
Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (2004–)
| Number of wins | Driver | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | 2005, 2006, 2010 |
| 2 | Felipe Massa | 2007, 2008 |
| Number of wins | Constructor | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Ferrari | 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 |
| 2 | Renault | 2005, 2006 |
| Year | Driver | Constructor | Location | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | cancelled | Sakhir | Report | |
| 2010 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | Sakhir | Report |
| 2009 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | Sakhir | Report |
| 2008 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | Sakhir | Report |
| 2007 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | Sakhir | Report |
| 2006 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | Sakhir | Report |
| 2005 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | Sakhir | Report |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Sakhir | Report |
Formula BMW Asia supported the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004, with Hong Kong driver Marchy Lee winning both rounds. But the series had logistical problems after the race, when the cars were delayed on their way to Malaysia, missing the next event and had to reschedule the rest of the season. Formula BMW Asia has not supported the Bahrain Grand Prix since, but the first ever Formula BMW World Final was held in Bahrain. The Porsche Supercup has supported the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 races. The GP2 Series supported the race in 2007 and a celebrity race was held in 2006 with the likes of Simon Webbe competing.
Further support for the 2008 event was provided by the GP2 Asia, Speedcar Series and a series using Australian built Chevrolet Luminas.
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