This year, Formula 1 returns to the Sakhir International Circuit for the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix from March 3rd to 5th, marking the start of a new F1 season. The opening race of the new F1 season first took place in Bahrain in 2006. This will be the fifth time that the race in the desert kicks off the start of an F1 season. 2023 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Bahrain Grand Prix after it was included in the Formula 1 calendar in 2004, it also being the first ever grand prix in the Middle East.
Despite the now established tradition of being the first race of the year, it is expected that in 2024, Saudi Arabia will get the honour. However, this does not mean that the Bahrain International Circuit will disappear from the Formula 1 calendar as the sport has already signed a contract that will see the race continue on the F1 calendar till at least 2036 by which time, no doubt, a further extension will have been agreed. The almost unprecedented length of the current contract extension shows the faith of the sport in the tiny desert kingdom located on a small island in the Persian Gulf.
Night racing at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Currently, Bahrain has about 1.5 million residents which has expanded year on year since when the first Bahrain Grand Prix was added to the Formula 1 calendar and the local population numbered less than 800,000.
The kingdom is very liberal in comparison to the great majority of Middle Eastern nations that belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the comparatively mild temperature of this opulent island nation is another benefit, particularly in contrast to the extremes of Qatar or Dubai.
During the day, the air temperature at this time of the year in the range of 25°C. In addition, spectators and protected from direct sunlight thanks to the closed stands around the track. And to make things even more fan friendly, since 2014 the Bahrain Grand Prix has started at dusk when the temperature can drop down to as low as 18°C.
This makes things much more pleasant for the spectators and the drivers, who, thanks to artificial lighting, retain an excellent view of the track and the surrounds. The lower temperatures also help the teams with overheating engines and also keeps the drivers cooler too.
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Attendance figures on the rise at the Bahrain Grand Prix
One of the hallmarks of the Bahrain Grand Prix has been the relatively low attendance for a Formula 1 event. The last time, the race was attended by less than 100,000 people over the three days of the event.
This is mainly due not so much to the low popularity of Formula 1 among residents but rather to the low capacity of the track, which only holds about 50,000 fans. However, this is more of a plus than a minus for fans of high-speed racing – the lower congestion of fans at the track saves them from giant queues and stands overcrowded with spectators.
The record number of fans at the Bahrain Grand Prix was recorded in 2019 – then about 97,000 people came to watch the racing competition. However, 3 years later, when the track returned to the F1 sports calendar in 2022, this figure was sadly only 35,000.
But things are on the up for 2023 and ticket sales for the Bahrain Grand Prix are in full swing and representatives of the Bahrain International Circuit have already rushed to officially announce that most of the seats in the stands of the season-opening race have already been sold out.
The Bahrain Grand Prix offers some of the most affordable F1 tickets
One of the secrets to Bahrain Grand Prix’s steadily growing attendance may be the affordable price of tickets for this sporting event, which is less than any other F1 2023 race. Their average price is only $265 and only the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July can offer a lower price tag.
You won’t want to miss the thrilling experience of watching the race from the Victory Grandstand if you’re a die-hard Formula 1 fan. It has the second-highest number of seats accessible among all the circuits on the 2023 calendar and is located directly before the last turn. You will be smack dab in the middle of the action!
The best news is that admission to the most expensive grandstand in front of the pits won’t break the bank either. They are in the top three cheapest this year, in fact!
Do not be concerned about the price if you are! As compared to local earnings and living expenses, the ticket prices are really rather reasonable. Just 8.29% of residents’ monthly income must be put aside in order to purchase these tickets. For such an amazing experience, that is a tiny amount to pay.
Trackside at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix
Spectators of the Bahrain Grand Prix this year can expect a relatively large number of races because, in addition to the start of the new F1 2023 season, both Formula 2 and 3 will also start their seasons in Bahrain. And F2 and F3 will each host two races over the weekend with Saturday’s Sprint Races and Sunday’s highly anticipated Feature Races. In addition, two more races will take place as part of the Porsche Sprint Cup Middle East. If you wish, you can also see the full schedule of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
There has been a tradition of musical artists performing at sporting events recently. Among them have been DJ Don Diablo and Afrojack. This year’s performance is scheduled for Friday evening, and DJ Snake will be the guest star. The performance stage is located behind the main stand in the F1 Fan Zone.
Exploring the surrounding area
If you are not up for renting a car, taxis and Uber are the most comfortable ways to get to and from the Bahrain International Circuit. In addition, free buses will run between several large hotels and the track.
If you wish, you can stay in Bahrain after the grand prix. There are many historical sights, museums with unique exhibits, excellent restaurants, and artificial tropical islands. So there is no doubt that you will be guaranteed to have a great experience in the desert kingdom.
