Bahrain International Circuit

What is a lap of Bahrain International Circuit like?

A Hermann Tilke desert circuit of long straights linked by slow and medium-speed corners, so traction, braking and rear-tyre management on one of the most abrasive surfaces in F1 matter most. Turn 1, a tight right-hander at the end of the main straight, was named after Michael Schumacher in 2014; it and Turn 4 are the main overtaking spots, while braking into the downhill, off-camber Turn 10 left-hander is the trickiest part of the lap. Three DRS zones run on the main straight, between Turns 3 and 4, and on the back straight between Turns 10 and 11. F1 has also raced the longer Endurance layout here (2010) and the short Outer Circuit (2020 Sakhir Grand Prix); every other Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir has used the Grand Prix layout, which has changed only slightly since Turn 4 was realigned after the 2004 race.

Lap length

5.412 km

Turns

15

Direction

clockwise

Downforce

Medium

Longest straight

about 1,080 m

Elevation change

16.9 m

DRS zones (to 2025)

3

Character

High speed (about 31% of the lap is cornering)

Layout described

Grand Prix Circuit (5.412 km, 15 turns), used for the Bahrain Grand Prix 2005-2009 and 2012-2025 (the 2004 race used a version 5 m longer before Turn 4 was realigned; 2010 used the Endurance layout; the 2020 Sakhir GP used the Outer Circuit; the 2026 race was not held at Sakhir)

Map, character and grey values are approximate (measured from a GPS trace). Report a correction.

Does pole position win at Bahrain International Circuit?

The pole sitter has won 11 of 22 races here (50%). Across all circuits since 1950 the pole sitter wins 44% of races. The winner started from the front row (P1 or P2) in 16 of 22 races (73%) and from the top three in 19 (86%). Lowest grid position to win: 5th, Sergio Pérez in 2020.

Where the winner started, every race at this circuit. Pole sitter means the driver who set the fastest qualifying time (first on the grid where no qualifying data exists); a grid penalty can move the pole sitter back, and that race still counts for them. Compare every circuit.

How are races at Bahrain International Circuit won?

Since 2010

16 races; winners made 1 stop in 2, 2 stops in 9, 3 or more in 5; first stop at a median lap 14 (24% of the race)

1994 to 2009 (refuelling)

6 races; winners made 2 stops in 5, 3 or more in 1; first stop at a median lap 20 (34% of the race)

Lap times over the years

All races at Bahrain International Circuit