2025 Bahrain Grand Prix: Fast Facts

It’s just over eight thousand kilometres as the crow flies between the scenes of the third and fourth rounds of the 2025 season. From Japan and the historic Suzuka track surrounded by cherry blossom, Formula 1 is now setting up shop in the semi-desert archipelago of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. A significant difference, especially in terms of temperature, given that it will go from a maximum of under 20°C and the rainy conditions of last Sunday morning to predicted highs of around 30 °C for this coming weekend.

The compounds 

In fact, temperature will be a very important variable when it comes to tyre management at the fourth race of the year. As was the case in Suzuka, the teams will have a choice of the three hardest compounds in Pirelli’s 2025 range, namely the C1 as Hard, the C2 as Medium and the C3 as Soft. However, the Sakhir track characteristics and indeed the temperatures, will require a different approach to that adopted last week in Japan. In fact, all the teams will have a good baseline from which to start work, given that in the last week of February, the Sakhir circuit hosted the only pre-season test as per the 2025 sporting regulations. It means that everyone will have plenty of data to work with when it comes to setting up the cars and choosing the best strategies for qualifying and the race. Over 24 hours of track time, the 20 drivers racked up 3,897 laps, equivalent to 21,090.564 kilometres and the tyres to be used this weekend did the most work back then: the C3 did the lion’s share, completing 67.17% of the laps, followed by the C2 (20.88%) and the C1 (9.26%). There were a measly 104 laps run on the C4 and three on the Intermediate. However, this weekend’s temperatures will present a new challenge, because during the test week, Sakhir saw unusual weather with strong winds leading to much cooler air and track temperatures than is normal at that time of year. The minimum start pressures for this weekend have changed based on analysis of the test data, to 23 psi on the front and 21 at the rear. That represents an increase of +1 on the front axle and +2 on the rear compared to the 2024 race and of 0.5 psi on both axles compared to February’s test.

The track 

The Sakhir circuit boasts several layouts, with two different ones used for the races in 2010 and 2020, but the current one is 5.412 kilometres in length and features 15 corners, 9 to the right and 6 to the left. The track is one of the toughest on the calendar when it comes to tyres, especially in the braking areas and when traction is required. The aggregate used for the asphalt at the Bahrain International Circuit is still very abrasive, despite it being quite old now. The surface provides good grip for the tyres, although sand blown onto the track can be a nuisance. Wear is not usually a limiting factor, neither is graining, but thermal degradation, especially across the rear axle, has a significant impact on tyre performance. Managing that is the key to getting a good result. Overtaking is possible, especially under heavy braking at turns 1, 4 and 11.

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Scheduling

The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from April 11th to 13th at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. The schedule for the event is as follows:

Friday, April 11th:
· Practice 1: 14:30 – 15:30
· Practice 2: 18:00 – 19:00

Saturday, April 12th:
· Practice 3: 15:30 – 16:30
· Qualifying: 19:00 – 20:00

Sunday, April 13th:
· Race: 18:00

How to Watch the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

Formula 1 fans around the globe can catch all the action from the Bahrain Grand Prix through various broadcasters and streaming services.

In the United Kingdom, viewers can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with comprehensive coverage of the practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself.

For fans in the United States, the Bahrain Grand Prix will be available through ESPN and its associated channels. ESPN offers extensive coverage of F1, including live broadcasts and replays. Cord-cutters can also stream the race live through various over-the-top (OTT) services that carry ESPN channels.

Viewers in Australia can tune in to watch the Grand Prix weekend unfold live on Fox Sports, which offers complete coverage of F1 races. For online streaming, fans can subscribe to Kayo Sports, a streaming platform that includes all Fox Sports content.

Additionally, F1 TV Pro offers live streaming of every track session to viewers in many countries around the world. This subscription service provides access to onboard cameras, team radios, live timing, and more, for an immersive viewing experience.

Remember to check the local listings and services for the most up-to-date information regarding broadcast times and availability in your region.

Bahrain Grand Prix Fast Facts

• Located in the middle of the desert, on what was formerly a camel farm, the Bahrain International Circuit features 1,120 palm trees.
• Being situated in a desert, you may expect sand to be an issue. However, the surrounding desert is sprayed with a sticky adhesive substance to minimize the amount of sand blowing onto the track.
• From the first breaking of the ground to build the Bahrain International Circuit to completion took just 496 days.
• The total run-off area is 140,000 sq. metres.
• The Bahrain International Circuit has five FIA-certified track layouts.
• Focus for car set-up is on optimising low and medium-speed corner performance. Mechanical grip is crucial out of the slower corners, whilst the high-speed sections are easily taken flat-out.
• This will be F1’s second visit to Bahrain in 2025, after the official three-day pre-season test in February.
• The track surface is made from a special aggregate that was shipped from a quarry in England.
• A few adjustments to the circuit have been made for 2025: the gravel bed at the exit of turn four has been extended, U-drains close to the racing line have been closed off and moved away into the run-off areas, and bumps at the start/finish straight and turn nine have been repaired.
• Bahrain has hosted the opening round of the F1 season on six occasions.
• Four different layouts have been used to host the F1 Grands Prix over the years.
• Mercedes’ first race back as a works team in F1 was in Bahrain at the start of the 2010 season.
• The race lap record of 1:31:447 in Bahrain was set by a Mercedes-Benz power unit, all the way back in 2005 by Pedro de la Rosa’s McLaren.
• Red Bull Racing have recorded a one-two finish in the last two Bahrain Grand Prix, leading every lap in both races.
• Red Bull Racing drivers have started from pole position on more occasions (five) than any other position on the grid in Bahrain GP history.
• Yuki Tsunoda became the 65th driver to score points in their Formula One debut when he finished 9th at the 2021 Bahrain GP.
• Max Verstappen’s emphatic 2024 win at Sakhir International Circuit was the fifth ‘Grand Slam‘ victory of his career. Only Hamilton (six) and Jim Clark (eight) have achieved this feat more