Bahrain Grand Prix

History

Construction of the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir began in 2002. Bahrain secured the rights to host Formula One after competing against Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which had also bid to host a race.

In , the race utilized the extended “Endurance Circuit” layout, which increased the lap length to 6.299 km. Plans to revert to the original “Grand Prix Circuit” layout were confirmed for the later-cancelled 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix, and it has been used since the event returned in .

In February 2022, the Bahrain Grand Prix contract was extended through to 2036.

Characteristics

The Bahrain International Circuit is known for its large run-off areas. While these have been criticised for failing to penalise mistakes, they help prevent sand from blowing onto the track. The circuit is widely regarded as one of the safest in Formula One.

Although alcohol is legal in Bahrain, podium celebrations use a non-alcoholic rosewater drink called Waard instead of champagne.

Controversy

2011 cancellation

Main article: 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix

On 21 February 2011, it was announced that the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for 13 March was cancelled due to the 2011 Bahraini protests. On 3 June, the FIA rescheduled the race for 30 October. The former world champion Damon Hill urged Formula One not to reinstate the event, warning that if it went ahead, “we will forever have the blight of association with repressive methods to achieve order”. Bernie Ecclestone told the BBC, “Hopefully there’ll be peace and quiet, and we can return in the future, but of course it’s not on. The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants – they’re the facts”. A week after announcing the rescheduling, Formula One cancelled the race altogether.

2012 controversy

Main article: 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix, 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix protests

Human rights activists called for the cancellation of the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix, held on 22 April, citing ongoing excessive force by authorities and reports of torture in detention. The activist Salah Abbas Habib was killed during a demonstration on the eve of the Grand Prix, and the photojournalist Ahmed Ismael Hassan al-Samadi was fatally shot while covering an anti-Grand Prix protest.

On 9 April 2012, The Guardian reported that a senior team member, speaking anonymously, said his view was representative, “The Formula One teams want the sport’s governing body to cancel – or at least postpone – the Bahrain Grand Prix … I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain. If I’m brutally frank, the only way they can pull this race off without incident is to have a complete military lockdown there. And I think that would be unacceptable, both for F1 and for Bahrain. But I don’t see any other way they can do it”.

On 21 April 2012, the group Anonymous launched “Operation Bahrain,” threatening cyberattacks if the race continued. Hours later, hackers took down the website f1-racers.net with a distributed denial-of-service attack. Despite the protests, the Grand Prix was held as scheduled.

Continued controversy

Since the global media attention in 2011 and 2012, human rights groups have continued to report abuses and arrests linked to F1 protests. Photographer Ahmed Humaidan was among about 30 people jailed for roles in the 2012 demonstrations, while activist Najah Ahmed Yousif was imprisoned and physically and sexually abused after criticising the Bahrain Grand Prix on social media. Rights organisations have criticised Formula One Group and Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for failing to uphold their own Statement of Commitment to Respect for Human Rights, arguing that by ignoring political crackdowns, F1 is complicit in the suffering of dissidents. In 2018, after sustained pressure, F1 said it was “concerned” for Yousif, but there has been no known follow-up.

A coalition of human rights groups, led by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, claims that the Bahrain Grand Prix has become a focal point for protests and abuse committed by security forces. They also accuse F1 of providing invaluable PR for Bahrain’s government and of helping normalise human rights violations. In letters to Lewis Hamilton, three political prisoners praised his stance on human rights and urged him to raise awareness of their plight. The event has been widely cited as an example of sportswashing.

2020 postponement

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers announced that no spectators would be permitted at the race scheduled for 22 March 2020. Two weeks before the event, it was indefinitely postponed. It was later rescheduled for 29 November and became one of two races hosted at the Bahrain International Circuit across consecutive weekends, with the second race held on the outer layout and named the Sakhir Grand Prix.

2020 controversy

Main article: 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix

Bahrain hosted two races in November 2020, but the decision drew criticism from human rights groups and from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton urged F1 to “face its responsibilities” and address human rights issues in host countries. A consortium of organisations led by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy wrote to the F1 CEO Chase Carey, warning that the race had again become a focal point for protests and abuses by Bahraini security forces. The Bahraini government denied allegations of sportswashing.

Legal complaint over Bahrain contract

On 27 October 2022, F1 was served with a legal complaint from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and two Bahraini torture survivors, Najah Yusuf and Hajer Mansoor, alleging it ignored human rights violations when it announced in February that the Bahrain Grand Prix would remain on the calendar until 2036. The claim, filed through the UK National Contact Point (NCP), accused them of breaching guidelines set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Winners

Repeat winners (drivers)

Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

Repeat winners (constructors)

Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)

Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

By year

References

References

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2. Huda Al Shamlan. (29 March 2012). "Formula One Comes Back". Bahrain News Agency.
3. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9402871.stm "Bahrain Grand Prix called off due to protests"] , bbc.co.uk, 21 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
4. link. (9 April 2018, 9 June 2011, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.)
5. (30 January 2012). "Bahrain has failed to grasp reform – so why is the Grand Prix going ahead?". The Guardian.
6. (9 April 2012). "Formula One 2012. F1 teams want FIA to postpone Bahrain Grand Prix". The Guardian.
7. Benson, Andrew. (29 November 2013). "Bahrain F1 Grand Prix to become night race in 2014". BBC Sport.
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9. (16 August 2010). "Sakhir reverts to old layout for 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix". En.espnf1.com.
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11. (2022-02-11). "Bahrain Grand Prix to remain in F1 until 2036".
12. (2011). "Bahrain Grand Prix: in pictures". The Daily Telegraph.
13. Baldwin, Alan. (3 June 2011). "Motor racing-Bahrain GP to go ahead this year – circuit chairman". Reuters.
14. Cary, Tom. (2 June 2011). "Damon Hill calls on Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One to abandon Bahrain Grand Prix". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
15. (8 June 2011). "Bahrain GP cannot go ahead – Bernie Ecclestone". En.espnf1.com.
16. (12 April 2012). "Ecclestone insists on Bahrain GP despite human rights abuses". Al-Akhbar English.
17. (14 April 2012). "Bahrain: Grand Prix Decision Ignores Abuses. F1 Should Consider Rights Implications of Scheduled Race". Human Rights Watch.
18. (21 April 2012). "Bahrain protester found dead on eve of grand prix". The Guardian.
19. (2 April 2012). "Journalist Ahmed Ismael Hassan al-Samadi Dies as Bahrain Violence Continues". International Business Times.
20. (26 March 2014). "Freelance Bahraini photographer given 10-year prison term".
21. (25 June 2018). "Sexually Assaulted Bahraini Female Activist Sentenced to Three Years in Prison over Facebook Comments Criticizing Formula One Race in Bahrain".
22. Yusuf, Najah. (27 March 2019). "Every moment I spend in prison in Bahrain stains the reputation of F1 – Najah Yusuf". The Guardian.
23. (27 March 2019). "Bahrain: FIA Urged to Visit F1 Political Prisoners in Jail".
24. Ingle, Exclusive by Sean. (14 November 2018). "F1 finally admits concern over woman jailed for Bahrain Grand Prix protests". The Guardian.
25. (25 November 2020). "Formula One faces charge of aiding sportwashing by racing in Bahrain".
26. (25 November 2020). "Bahraini political prisoners appeal to Lewis Hamilton for his help".
27. Chapman, Simon. (8 March 2020). "No spectators for Bahrain Grand Prix".
28. (25 November 2020). "Formula One faces charge of aiding sportwashing by racing in Bahrain".
29. (27 October 2022). "F1 faces legal challenge over Bahrain contract and sportswashing".
30. "Bahrain GP". ChicaneF1.
31. "Sakhir". StatsF1.