The Bahrain Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar through 2036. The circuit has already been allowed to host seventeen F1 races, so it's a good time to look back at Bahrain's history.
The first GP in Bahrain
The Bahrain Grand Prix was first staged in 2004. With that, the race went into the history books as the very first F1 race ever held in the Middle East. It was none other than Michael Schumacher who won the first race at the Bahrain circuit. Since then, with the exception of 2011, the race has been held every year. In 2011, the Grand Prix had to be cancelled due to protests in the country.
Last season, Bahrain was the opener of the season due to the corona pandemic. In 2022, the circuit in the desert region of Sakhir will receive this honor again due to the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix. It is not the first time that the circuit serves as the season opener, as Bahrain was also allowed to occupy the first spot on the calendar in 2006 and 2010.
Night race
Today we know the Bahrain GP as a night race, but this was not always the case. Only in 2014 was the race organized at night to mark the tenth anniversary of the Grand Prix. This made it the second night race in F1, along with the Singapore Grand Prix. It was decided to change the subsequent races to night races as well.
Although Bahrain often produces exciting races, almost every year there is also controversy surrounding the race. The Grand Prix has faced backlash from human rights groups for several years, and in 2020 Lewis Hamilton also spoke out about human rights problems in the country. There have been several calls for the Grand Prix to be cancelled, but at 2011 this never happened.
Crazy races in 2020
In 2020, two races were held at the circuit, as the corona pandemic left space on the calendar. During the first race, Romain Grosjean was involved in a horror crash, where his car broke in two and burst into flames. Fortunately, the Frenchman was able to escape, but he suffered burns to his hands.
The second race, the Sakhir Grand Prix, was run on the circuit's fast outdoor track. Grosjean was replaced by Pietro Fittipaldi at Haas, and Hamilton had to miss the race due to a COVID-19 infection. This made George Russell the Briton's replacement, allowing him to prove himself for the first time in the Mercedes.
The result was a surprising podium with Sergio Perez winning and Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll in second and third places. Due to a blunder by Mercedes, Russell had to make do with ninth place. The victory of Perez, who at the time was still without a seat for 2021, may ultimately have been crucial to his career, as Red Bull Racing chose to offer the Mexican a contract.
2021
Because the Australian Grand Prix was postponed, Bahrain was once again the season opener. It was the first race of the season where we saw a duel between title rivals Max Verstappen and Hamilton. The race immediately caused a stir. However, 2021 was not the first time the two drivers met. In 2018, the rivals hit each other during an overtaking maneuver by Verstappen, but the Dutchman crashed out due to a flat tire. The year provided double drama for Red Bull, as teammate Daniel Ricciardo also crashed out due to engine problems.
Hamilton is the most successful driver in Bahrain with five victories to his name. Sebastian Vettel follows in second place with four victories. Fernando Alonso also has success on the circuit with three victories. Charles Leclerc and Valtteri Bottas also have fond memories of the circuit, as both men achieved their first pole position at this circuit. Bottas did this in 2017 with Mercedes, and Leclerc got it done in 2019 with Ferrari.