Second race in Bahrain will take place on shorter 'outside' track

There will be two Formula 1 races in Bahrain this year and given that circuit has an FIA Grade 1 licence for all layouts, they can modify the route. This makes it possible to drive two different races at the same location and although it has been in the pipeline for a long time, the change has finally been confirmed. The second race in Bahrain will be driven on a different layout.

This shorter circuit will skip the many combinations of turns after turn four to go straight ahead instead of going right. The curves on this alternative circuit will be slightly less perpendicular, so the speed will be higher. The track is also shorter in terms of distance and the intention is to drive as many as 87 laps.

This layout has never been used for an international race, not even for Formula 1. In a way, this makes it a completely new circuit, at least in part, and according to Formula 1 this is the best alternative option the circuit has to offer.

Qualifying and the Grand Prix will take place in the evening, this time later than usual compared to the regular Bahrain Grand Prix. This makes it even more like a night race. With this short circuit and the high number of laps, the qualifying laps are expected to be around 55 seconds and in the race the lap times are expected to be just under the minute mark.