#F1 Gulf Air #BahrainGP 2025 Preview. #BahrainGrandPrix
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 Race Start, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2025 Bahrain GP Preview, Formula 1 Bahrain Preview, F1 Bahrain GP Preview.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – After reigning World Driver’s Champion Max Verstappen took a dominant 64th-career victory at the Japanese GP to propel the Dutchman to just one point behind McLaren’s Lando Norris in the standings, round four of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship heads straight to the Bahrain International Circuit in the desert, under the lights for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025. This will be the 21st Grand Prix that Bahrain has hosted. This is also the second race of the first triple header of the campaign with the Japanese GP and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – A look at the Bahrain International Circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit is a permanent racing facility which opened in 2004 and is used for the FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the traditional 24 Hours of Bahrain. It is located at Sakhir, 30 kilometres south-west of the island’s capital Manama.
The circuit was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the same architect who has designed many other modern circuits on the Formula One calendar. The main contractor for the project was Cybarco-WCT. The multi-million-dollar project started back in September 2002 when the Kingdom of Bahrain signed a long-term deal to host the first ever Middle Eastern round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The circuit costed approximately 56.2 million Bahraini Dinars (US$150 million) to build and construct. It has six separate tracks, including a 6.299km endurance circuit, a test oval and drag strip.
The circuit posed a unique problem as it was positioned in the middle of a desert, there were worries that sand would blow onto the track and disrupt the race weekend. However, organisers of the event were able to keep the sand off the track by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track to keep it still.
The surface of the track is made of Graywacke Aggregate, shipped to Bahrain from Bayston Hill quarry Shropshire, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula 1 drivers for the high level of grip it offers. The same type of material is used at the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 5.412 km Grand Prix circuit was designed to give spectators the best possible experience, with 50,000 grandstand capacity seating, all providing great views of the circuit. Those spectators (A total of up to 100,000 on the race weekend) get to see the cars charging into the external desert area, before coming back into the oasis-styled infield section. Over 500 journalists from around the globe can also witness the action from the venue’s purpose-built media centre.
A modified ‘endurance’ style track layout was used for the season-opening 2010 event, with an additional complex starting at Turn Four extending the lap to 23 corners from its original 15 and 6.299 km, but the event reverted to its original track configuration for 2012. It gives the driver a unique experience in the way the circuit’s width varies at the end of the different straights. This allows for diverse racing lines, and the 15-turn design provides three great places for overtaking.
The circuit places a lot of great challenges on the cars including cooling, braking performance, and traction. The smooth tarmac and gentle kerbs encourage the drivers to attack the many medium speed corners. Tyre wear is normally on the cusp between a two-three stop strategy although the evening’s race takes the extreme temperatures out of the equation with track temperatures dropping fast as the sun goes down.
Another tough challenge for the engineers and in particular the drivers are the variable levels of grip that afflict the circuit. With high winds common, the circuit is frequently swept with dust from the desert, leading to the unusual circumstance of the circuit sometimes “devolving’ during the sessions.
The Bahrain International Grand Prix Circuit runs in a clockwise direction and is 5.412km (3.363 miles) in length with 15 corners.
The race distance is 308.238km (191.530 miles) in length with 57 laps in total.
Pedro De La Rosa holds the fastest lap record at the Bahrain International Circuit set in 2005 with a 1:31.447 in his McLaren-Mercedes MP4-20.
Lewis Hamilton has the most Bahrain Grand Prix victories with five to his name.
Scuderia Ferrari are the most successful Constructor at the Bahrain Grand Prix with seven victories.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – A lap of the Bahrain International Circuit
Here is the onboard pole position lap of the Bahrain International Circuit from last year’s event, set by Max Verstappen in his Oracle Red Bull Racing-RBPT RB20 racer. The reigning World Champion posted a solid 1:29.179. You can watch the footage right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Mikgrm52k
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2024: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari. 2021: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2020: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them the red-marked C3 “Soft” tyres to Bahrain alongside the yellow-branded C2 “Medium” compounds and the white-marked C1 “Hard” rubber over the race weekend including the green-marked “Intermediate” and blue-marked “Full Wet” tyres in case of rain.
Drivers will have eight sets of the softs, three sets of the mediums and two sets of the harder compounds.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be three DRS Zones for the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. The first detection point is 50 metres before turn one with the activation zone 23 metres after turn three. The second detection point is 10 metres before turn nine with the second activation zone 50 metres after turn 10. The third detection point is 108 metres before turn 14 with the third activation zone 170 metres after the final corner.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – ICYMI: Verstappen scores dominant Japanese GP victory
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen scored his first victory of the season at the Japanese GP with a dominant run from lights-to-flag ahead of McLaren pairing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Dutchman drove a faultless race from start-to-finish despite some shifting issues at the start to give their power-unit supplier Honda victory on their home tarmac. This was Verstappen’s 64th-career win.
When the 53-lap Japanese GP began, pole-sitter Verstappen got a solid run off the line cuts Norris off into turn one as behind them, the field were all clear with no collisions.
Further back, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso had a look at Haas’s Oliver Bearman at the Casio Hairpin, but the latter covered the former.
At the beginning of the second tour, Verstappen held a one second lead over Norris with Piastri third, Leclerc fourth, Russell fifth, Antonelli sixth, Hadjar seventh, Hamilton eighth, Albon ninth as Bearman rounded out the top ten runners.
Further back Tsunoda overtook Lawson for P13 and was only four tenths behind his former team-mate and friend – Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Race leader Verstappen broke out of DRS range from championship leader Norris.
The gaps were very tight between all the runners – lots of cars tucked behind each other. Hamilton was keeping on the heels of Hadjar despite beginning the Grand Prix on the C1 white side-walled harder compounds, whilst Mercedes’ Antonelli cut the corner at the Casio Triangle Chicane – but managed to hold position.
Russell was looking racy in P5 as race leader Verstappen reported: “the upshifts are feeling really bad.”
Out-front Verstappen lead was still over a second to Norris on the fifth lap as behind the latter, birthday boy Piastri was right within DRS range of his McLaren team-mate.
Further back on the sixth tour, with DRS assistance down the main-straight, Hamilton got into the slipstream of Hadjar’s VCARB02 entry and passed the Frenchman for seventh place as the Briton’s tyres were right up to temperature.
Hamilton now had a couple of seconds to make up to chase down his Mercedes replacement in Antonelli.
On the seventh lap, race leader Verstappen said: “the upshifts are a little better.” As the Dutchman in clear air can continue to nurse his tyres and as a result, his gap to Norris was continuing to grow at this stage of proceedings. Increasing to over two seconds as Norris was beginning to worry about his tyre life.
Third-placed Piastri was still within DRS range of his McLaren team-mate, but his tyres won’t like being right behind in the turbulent air of the other MCL39 entry.
Further back Hamilton’s pace was in the same lap-range as Leclerc who was on the medium compound and the former will get to run the C2’s later on when his fuel load had dropped.
On the tenth tour, Verstappen’s lead over Norris was at 1.995 seconds with Piastri holding third, Leclerc fourth, Russell fifth, Antonelli sixth, Hamilton seventh, Hadjar eighth, Albon ninth as Bearman completed the top ten.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, running at the rear switched from the softs to the C1 harder tyres and was over a pit-stop back to nearest driver Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber.
In the other Red Bull, Tsunoda was still trying to find a way past Gasly in the fight for P12. He had DRS but could not get close enough to make a move on the Alpine.
Norris received over the radio received a warning that light rain is expected around the 20th tour.
Upfront on the 12th lap, Verstappen and Norris were running within a tenth of each other – but third-placed Piastri was dropping back – the Australian’s gap to his team-mate fell to 1.7 seconds – his medium rubber complaining of being stuck in turbulent air too long.
In the battle for fourth place, Russell was continuing to run closely in DRS range of Leclerc’s SF-25 entry.
Seventh-placed Hamilton was continuing to make in-roads on Antonelli eating into the Italian’s gap by half-a-second – the battle could play out in the pits where the undercut was expected to be powerful at Suzuka.
On the 13th lap, Piastri after cooling his tyres – was back on the tail of team-mate Norris as the gap fell from 1.7 to 1.4 seconds.
Norris was told on the 14th lap that tyre graining and degradation would not be an issue here – overheating being stuck behind another car could make the rubber scream in protest.
Which meant that following another is going to be a difficult challenge, with Verstappen holding the big advantage running in cleaner air out-front.
Russell finally started to drop back out of DRS range from Leclerc in the battle for fourth.
On lap 16, Alpine’s Jack Doohan was the second driver to stop for a fresh set of the C1 hards and emerged just ahead of last-placed Stroll.
The pit window was approaching for the medium tyre runners as sole-tyre supplier Pirelli was expecting them to pit in the lap 19-25 window – a few laps to go before drivers could attempt the powerful undercut.
On the 19th lap, second-placed Norris was told to come in and pit to which the Briton responded confirm to try and attempt race leader Verstappen to box – but the McLaren pit crew returned to their garage.
On lap 20, Verstappen’s lead to Norris was at 1.490 seconds with Piastri third, Leclerc fourth as Russell pitted for a fresh set of hards to attempt to undercut Leclerc. Antonelli fifth, Hamilton sixth, Hadjar seventh, Albon eighth, Bearman ninth as Alonso rounded out the top ten.
Russell emerged in 12th place behind Tsunoda.
A tour later, third-placed Piastri pitted for his fresh set of the C1’s to cover Russell and came out just ahead of tenth-placed Alonso.
On the 22nd lap, the top three of Verstappen, Norris and Leclerc all came in for their fresh set of hards and all emerged in fifth, sixth and tenth respectively.
Replays showed Norris was released close to the path of Verstappen as both drivers ran side-by-side out of the pits as the former ran on the ride-hand-side onto the grass as they exited the pit-lane.
This promoted Antonelli up into the lead as the Italian was leading for the first time whilst over the radio both Verstappen and Norris were riling about what happened.
Verstappen was maintaining he had right of way, Norris was saying he was forced onto the grass. No investigations incoming from the stewards at that stage.
On the 25th lap, the yet-to-pit Antonelli was 4.122 seconds over Hamilton with Hadjar third with all three to stop soon for a fresh set of rubber, Verstappen fourth, Norris fifth, Piastri sixth, Leclerc seventh.
On lap 26, Hadjar pitted from third for his fresh set of hards and emerged in tenth place behind Sainz.
Further back, both Gasly and Alonso suffered slow stops whilst the stewards stated that there would be no investigations for the Verstappen-Norris incident.
Out-front Antonelli’s lead to Hamilton was at 4.312 seconds with Verstappen 2.997 second back in third, Norris fourth, Piastri fifth, Leclerc sixth, Russell seventh, Lawson eight, Sainz ninth who was noted by the stewards for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at the final chicane as Hadjar completed the top ten.
Tsunoda likewise done the same as Sainz at the Casio Triangle Chicane after running a bit too hot.
In the fight for ninth with DRS on the main-straight, Hadjar ran around the outside of Sainz into the opening corner and dives into the position after run down into turn one.
On lap 31, second-placed Hamilton after suffering a lock-up at the final chicane made his pit-stop for a fresh set of the C2 mediums – a solid 2.2 second stop – and emerged in seventh place behind former team-mate Russell.
On the 33rd tour, Antonelli relinquished his lead to pit for his fresh set of the C1’s and came out in sixth place behind fifth-placed Mercedes team-mate Russell.
With twenty laps remaining, Verstappen’s lead over Norris was down to 1.3 seconds with Piastri third, Leclerc fourth, Russell fifth, Antonelli sixth, Hamilton seventh, Hadjar eighth, Albon ninth as Lawson rounded out the top ten runners.
Both Lawson and Sainz pitted for a fresh set of the C3 softer compounds on their final stints and came out in 16th and 17th respectively.
Out-front on the 36th lap, Verstappen was told he can push until the end. No fuel load worries, no tyre degradation concerns. Off he went the Dutchman, unleashing the RB21 as he took a few tenths out of Norris – the gap was at 1.5 seconds. Piastri was 1.2 seconds further back in third.
On lap 38, championship leader Norris confirmed his tyres are fine, as the McLaren driver set about closing the gap to race leader Verstappen. The gap stood at 1.4 seconds, and he could not hope his opponent’s tyres will go off a cliff today. He was going to have to make this happen on track, as Verstappen did not look like he would make a mistake.
Running in fourth on the 40th lap, Leclerc race engineer made a suggestion on settings to which the Monegasque driver responded: “Yes, you already told me. I don’t do it for a reason.”
On the 42nd tour, Piastri was posting purple fastest sectors all over the place. He was just eight tenths behind his McLaren team mate. But it does look like Norris was nursing his tyres for a late attack on Verstappen. “If Lando is still saving, I think he should go soon. I have the pace to get Max,” Piastri explained.
With nine laps remaining Verstappen’s lead over Norris was at 1.4 seconds with Piastri third, Leclerc fourth, Russell fifth, Antonelli sixth, Hamilton seventh, Hadjar eighth, Albon ninth as Bearman completed the top ten.
Norris went broke the DRS range from team-mate Piastri in just one lap. The gap between those two was over a second, as Norris thought about closing up to Verstappen now. The Dutchman leads by 1.3s as he was on the hunt for his first win of the year.
After a couple of laps cooling his tyres, Piastri went for a last ditch effort to chase down his team mate Norris. He got back within DRS range, but that alone was not enough. He needs Norris to make an error, or else he is destined to finish third on his birthday.
On the 49th lap, Piastri with DRS range was starting to pull close to Norris but was too far back to attempt anything in the battle for second.
Piastri once again was within DRS range of Norris on the following tour – but was too far back to mount a challenge.
On the penultimate lap, Piastri’s tyres were crying out again. The Australian dropped out of DRS range of his team mate now, with Norris 1.1 seconds back on race leader Verstappen.
Verstappen crossed the line to score the Japanese GP victory at Honda’s home Grand Prix by 1.423 seconds over Norris as Piastri rounded out the final podium place.
Leclerc reached the chequered flag a distant fourth and ahead of Mercedes duo Russell and Antonelli who were fifth and sixth respectively.
The other SF-25 entry of Hamilton took seventh and in-front of RB’s Hadjar who finished eighth whilst Williams’ Albon and Haas’s Bearman completed the final points place.
2025 Bahrain GP Preview – The Situation
Formula 1makes it’s return to the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend for the first night race of the 2025 campaign.
After reigning world champion Max Verstappen drove a stunning race to capture victory in Suzuka, McLaren will look forward to bounce back at a circuit they were strong at during pre-season testing.
Norris returns to Sakhir sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 62 points and a one-point advantage over closest rival Verstappen who is second on 61 points whilst Piastri is third and a further 13 points behind his McLaren team-mate on 49 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team returns to Bahrain on top of the Constructors Championship with 111 points and a 36-points lead over nearest rivals Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team who are second on 75 points whilst Oracle Red Bull Racing are a further 50 points behind the Woking based-outfit in third on 61 points.
Aside from Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint race triumph in Shanghai, it has not been the start to the 2015 season that Ferrari wanted, but on a familiar track to all the drivers and teams, they will look to join the battle at the front on a circuit which should better suit their SF-25 racer. The Scuderia will be bringing a major update to their car particularly a new floor to help alleviate the issue of raising the car’s ride height to avoid excessive plank wear.
Click here for the 2025 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructor’s Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 race weekend begins Thursday April 11 with Free Practice 1 and 2, followed by Free Practice 3 and Qualifying Saturday April 12 and the 57 lap Race Saturday April 13.
