Bahrain Grand Prix

F1 has raced at the Sakhir circuit since 2004 when it made history as the first grand prix to be held in the Middle East.

The kingdom of Bahrain is one of the more liberal Arab states and as such, there’s a vibrant social scene around the city and alcohol is widely available in the city and at the track.

The Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons are two stand-out hotels but for those wanting to stay close to the track, try the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa sea & spa. It’s on the coast, 4.7km from the track and is popular with the drivers and teams.

The Westin Hotel and the slightly cheaper Le Meridien, are in the city and linked to the City Centre Bahrain Mall where there are plenty of good dining options in the upper level food court.

There is minimal public transport in Bahrain so most visitors choose to rent a car and drive. Rental cars are good value if booked in advance and fuel is the cheapest I encounter anywhere in the world, about a quarter of the price you’d pay in Europe. Special F1 buses also run from several hotels to the track and back at pre-determined times.

The race starts at dusk which sees milder temperatures than during the heat of the day. The grandstands are situated around the main straight, the first and last turn and at the back of the paddock. There is no spectator access to the back part of the track and no general admission standing area tickets are sold, it’s all grandstand seating.

I rate the Bahrain paddock as the best of all the paddocks and at night with the tower and paddock lit up, it has a magical atmosphere. It also attracts the smallest F1 crowd of the year, around 100,000 people, nearly a fifth of the crowd at Silverstone.

If you’re looking to spot drivers coming and going, you can wait at the main entrance where drivers drive through and then pass under the track. If you have paddock access, you may be able to sneak around to the main paddock entrance and catch the drivers as they walk from their car park to the swipe gates.