Circuit

Bahrain International Circuit

Bahrain · 22 grands prix

The Bahrain International Circuit, at Sakhir, opened in 2004 as the first Formula One race in the Middle East. A desert circuit with several heavy braking zones, it usually hosts a floodlit night race.

A right-hand hairpin after the pit straight, renamed the Michael Schumacher Corner in 2014, a heavy braking zone from over 300 km/h and a prime overtaking spot where Hamilton beat Rosberg off the line in their 2014 duel.
A left-hander taken by running the car wide out of Turn 1 to get on the power early; Hamilton claimed its inside while defending from Rosberg in 2014.
An easy flat right-hander into a DRS zone; on lap 1 of 2020 Romain Grosjean's car clipped Daniil Kvyat on the straight after it and speared into the barrier at about 67G, splitting in two and catching fire.
A fourth-gear right-hander with a wide entry and a good overtaking chance, realigned before 2005 to shorten the lap; Verstappen passed Hamilton around its outside in 2021 but off track, and was told to give the place back.
A flicked left before the fast Turns 6 and 7.
The right-hand entry to a high-speed right-left sweep taken in at least fifth gear.
The left-hand exit of that sweep, where the cars plunge downhill.
A downhill braking zone into a right-hand hairpin, uphill on exit; Kvyat and Lance Stroll collided here at the 2020 restart, flipping Stroll's car.
A corner where drivers stay right for the best line into Turn 10.
The circuit's most challenging point, a tight, downhill, off-camber left-hander; a dislodged drain cover here struck Charles Leclerc's car in 2024 testing, and it is where Verstappen completed handing 2021's position back to Hamilton.
A medium-speed left-hander with a tight apex and open exit at the end of the second DRS zone.
A sweeping uphill right-hander taken at full throttle in sixth gear by cars able to.
A downhill right-hand apex turning onto the penultimate straight.
Part of the final downhill braking sequence turning right toward the last corner.
The final corner of the lap before the pit straight.

Winners by year

2025Oscar PiastriMcLaren
2024Max VerstappenRed Bull
2023Max VerstappenRed Bull
2022Charles LeclercFerrari
2021Lewis HamiltonMercedes
2020Lewis HamiltonMercedes
2020Sergio PérezRacing Point
2019Lewis HamiltonMercedes
2018Sebastian VettelFerrari
2017Sebastian VettelFerrari
2016Nico RosbergMercedes
2015Lewis HamiltonMercedes
2014Lewis HamiltonMercedes
2013Sebastian VettelRed Bull
2012Sebastian VettelRed Bull
2010Fernando AlonsoFerrari
2009Jenson ButtonBrawn
2008Felipe MassaFerrari
2007Felipe MassaFerrari
2006Fernando AlonsoRenault
2005Fernando AlonsoRenault
2004Michael SchumacherFerrari