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On-track racing action and off-track entertainment roared through Sakhir last weekend, as Bahrain celebrated 20 years of hosting the top echelons of motorsport.
The 2024 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend, celebrated under the theme ’20 Years of a Modern Classic’, featured world-class performance and fast-paced racing on all three days from February 29 to March 2.
A host of stars came out to play in Bahrain for the F1 season’s opening race with sporting celebrities mixing with royalty and TV personalities.
Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson was given the honour of waving the flag to signal winner Max Verstappen crossing the finishing line.
Meanwhile, Brazilian and Saudi Arabian Al Hilal football club star Neymar drew flocks of young fans eager to grab a selfie or autograph with the iconic footballer.
Also present at the Sakhir circuit was Hamala’s most famous resident, former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard, who now coaches at Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. One of his star players, former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, accompanied him.
British royal Princess Eugenie also attended the race, alongside her husband Jack Brooksbank and mother Sarah Ferguson.
Former F1 driver and current IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean who survived a horrific crash at the BIC during a heart-stopping moment in 2020 was also spotted in the paddock area, heading into the McLaren hospitality suite.
In the vending area of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), a plethora of performers, thrill rides and games kept fans entertained between the racing action.
Among the roaming entertainers were the Puglia Street Band, Carnival de Colores, AJ Batucada, TikTak Marionettes, Stevie Wheels and Juggling Dom.
The Puglia Street Band took spectators on a musical journey, bringing a fusion of tradition and modern flair for an electrifying experience, while the Carnival de Colores dazzled race-goers with their captivating dances and rhythmic moves performed in radiant costumes, becoming a kaleidoscope of colours, feathers, and sequins.
The thrill rides this year included the High Impress and the Ferris Wheel, both successful hallmarks from previous Bahrain Grands Prix.
The Ferris Wheel gave visitors a distinctive vantage point, with a panoramic view of BIC and the surrounding Sakhir area, allowing them to observe the racing action from a unique perspective.
The High Impress got pulses pounding with its controlled spins and rotations, as excited yelps punctuated the festive atmosphere near the food vendors.
On the state-of-the-art racing track, four racing series staged top-class action. The F1 racing was supported by the Formula 2 and 3 season-openers as well as the penultimate round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East (PCCME).
In the main racing action, Verstappen led from pole to chequered flag, finishing 22.457 seconds ahead of his team-mate Sergio Perez, securing a similar one-two finish as last season in Bahrain.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took the last podium step 25.110s from first, while his teammate Charles Leclerc came fourth 39.669 seconds behind. George Russell, who started from third, finished fifth.
Completing the top 10 and putting five constructors with both cars in the points were Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, Oscar Piastri of McLaren, and the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Rounding off the classification from 11th to 20th, respectively, one lap behind Verstappen, were Zhou Guanyu of Kick Sauber, Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda of RB, Alexander Albon of Williams, Nico Hulkenberg of Haas, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly of Alpine, Valtteri Bottas of Kick Sauber, and Logan Sargeant of Williams, who was classified two laps back.
Verstappen also managed to nab the extra point for fastest lap, after securing the pole position on Friday night.
Zane Maloney and Luke Browning were victorious in their respective championships, with Maloney winning the feature race in the F2 championship, while Browning took the feature in F3.
Harry King triumphed in the PCCME’s first race, while Robert De Haan snatched the victory in the weekend’s second race.
