Bahrain International Circuit opened in 2004 as Formula 1's first Middle Eastern venue. The Grand Prix briefly used the longer Endurance layout in 2010, then returned to the Grand Prix course; the shorter Outer layout staged a second race in 2020.
The 2014 'Duel in the Desert' between Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg is its classic race. In 2020 Romain Grosjean survived a violent, fireball accident that led to further safety lessons.
Across 5.412 km, its 15 corners create a distinct rhythm between braking, precision and acceleration. As a permanent racing circuit, it asks drivers and teams to adapt setup, tyre management and race strategy to the venue's particular constraints, while its clockwise direction shapes the sequence of its most demanding sectors.
