The 2025 Formula 1 season charges into its fourth round with the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir from April 11 to 13. This 5.412-kilometer desert circuit is a familiar battleground, known for its high-speed straights, heavy braking zones, and changeable grip levels due to sand blowing onto the track.
As night falls over the floodlit venue, drivers will need to be razor-sharp to extract maximum performance from their cars.
The race weekend follows a classic format, with Free Practice 1 scheduled for Friday afternoon at 2:30 PM local time (12:30 PM BST), followed by Free Practice 2 at 6:00 PM (4:00 PM BST).
On Saturday, drivers return to the track for Free Practice 3 at 3:30 PM (1:30 PM BST), before qualifying kicks off in the evening at 7:00 PM local (5:00 PM BST).
The main event—the Grand Prix—takes place on Sunday evening, lights out at 6:00 PM local time (4:00 PM BST). Fans in the UK can tune in via Sky Sports F1, while ESPN handles the coverage in the U.S.
Stats and predictions ahead of the Sakhir showdown
The Bahrain International Circuit has been a constant on the calendar since 2004, and its 15-turn layout has seen plenty of iconic moments. The lap record — 1m31.447s — was set by Pedro de la Rosa in 2005, but today’s cars could well challenge that in qualifying.
Historically, Lewis Hamilton has dominated here, racking up five wins between 2014 and 2021. Fernando Alonso also has three victories to his name, and Max Verstappen enters this year’s race looking for his third consecutive win at the dessert circuit following triumphs in 2023 and 2024.
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Coming into Bahrain, the championship battle is tight. Lando Norris holds a slim one-point lead over Max Verstappen, thanks to his consistent podium finishes. Oscar Piastri isn’t far behind in third, riding the momentum from his victory in China.
Ferrari’s marquee signing, Lewis Hamilton, will be eager to put in a statement performance at a track where the Scuderia showed strong pace during pre-season testing. While his opening races haven’t yielded wins, the potential is there for a turnaround.
Meanwhile, George Russell is proving to be a steady hand at Mercedes, stepping into a leadership role and collecting a string of podiums.
His consistency makes him one to watch under the lights of Sakhir. With a tightly packed field and multiple contenders for pole and the podium, Bahrain promises to deliver another thriller in what’s already shaping up to be a fiercely competitive season.
