Bahrain International Circuit track map

Bahrain International Circuit – track information

The Bahrain International Circuit held its inaugural F1 race in 2004. F1’s first venue in the Middle East was built on the site of a former camel farm in the desert south of Manama.

The event attracted international attention in 2011 when it was first postponed, then cancelled following the government’s suppression of pro-democracy protests in February. Formula One’s presence in Bahrain continues to attract criticism.

Bahrain’s grand prix track is typical of most modern circuits, compromising a few long straights and slow corners. Following its first race in 2004 minor modifications were made to turn four.

Two alternative versions of the layout have been used since. In 2010 a longer version of the track was used but it proved unpopular and was dropped after a single race.

Bahrain was due to hold the second race of the 2020 season but the race was postponed due to the pandemic. The track instead held back-to-back races at the end of the season, and the second was held on the shorter, Outer circuit.

For the 2014 race floodlights were installed, allowing the main event to be run at night.

Circuit information

Lap data
Lap length 5.412km (3.363 miles)
Race laps 57
Race distance 308.238km (191.53 miles)
Pole position Left-hand side of the track
Lap record* 1’31.447 (Pedro de la Rosa, 2005)
Fastest lap 1’27.264 (Lewis Hamilton, 2020, qualifying three)
Maximum speed 329.6kph (204.804 mph)
DRS zone one Detection: 50 metres before turn one
Activation: 23 metres after turn three
DRS zone two Detection: 10 metres before turn nine
Activation: 50 metres after turn 10
DRS zone three Detection: 110 metres before turn four
Activation: 250 metres after turn 15
Distance from grid to turn one 336.49m
Car performance
Full throttle 72%
Longest flat-out section 1205m
Downforce level Medium
Gear changes per lap 56
Fuel use per lap 1.7kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel 0.054s
Strategy
Pit lane time loss 18.9s
Tyre compounds C1, C2, C3

*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix

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