*** HAMILTON, BUTTON AMONG FIRST F1 STARS TO ARRIVE IN BAHRAIN | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

HAMILTON, BUTTON AMONG FIRST F1 STARS TO ARRIVE IN BAHRAIN

Formula One drivers began arriving in Bahrain yesterday ahead of this weekend’s 2015 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir from Friday to Sunday for another spectacular showcase of racing and entertainment.

Among the first group of high-profile racers touching down in the Kingdom were defending world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and former champion Jenson Button of McLaren.
Others to reach Bahrain were Valtteri Bottas of Williams, Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull, and Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. of Toro Rosso.
The remainder of the 20-driver field that is expected to line up for Sunday’s floodlit Bahrain Grand Prix will be touching down over the
next few days.
Staff members from the participating race teams and officials from Formula One and the Federation International de l’Automobile have also
started to arrive.
Meanwhile, preparations went on circuit-wide in Sakhir as the days continued to count down towards the nation’s biggest event.
This year’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be the fourth of 19 races on the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship. It will be the second successive year that the race will be held under floodlights, making for a brilliant spectacle for race fans who are both attending the event and those watching on live television from around the world.
Formula One action in Sakhir gets underway on Friday with a pair of
hour-and-a-half long practice sessions. A third practice will be held
Saturday prior to Qualifying at 6pm. The Bahrain Grand Prix will then
flag off at 6pm on Sunday for a 57-lap battle under the stars.
Racing will also be held all weekend in the pair of supporting championships, including the GP2 Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup
Challenge Middle East.
Tickets are still available and fans who have yet to buy theirs are
advised to do so as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.
They cost  BD150 apiece for seating along BIC’s Main Grandstand which is the ideal location to enjoy all the Grand Prix action. It overlooks the start and finish line, the main straight, the Formula One Pit Lane and the post-race podium.
Tickets for seating along the Batelco Grandstand are BD120 apiece as well as the Turn One Grandstand for BD100 each. The Batelco Grandstand offers a panoramic view of the inner part of the circuit, including the famous “desert loops” while being located right above the support race pit lane. The Turn One Grandstand overlooks the highly exciting Michael Schumacher corner, where plenty of action happens especially at the very start of the race when the field slithers through and the drivers attempt to avoid contact while either improving or keeping their positions.
The cheapest tickets are BD60 each for seats on the University or Victory Grandstands, the former is located opposite turns two and three, and it offers views of the very exciting Michael Schumacher Corner, turns nine and 10, and the back straight.

The Victory Grandstand, on the other hand, overlooks the last section of the track, including the final corner and the back straight.
Certain discounts are available for the groups of individuals.
Children aged three to 12 years old can get 50 per cent off, while school students aged 13 to 17 years old get a 25 per cent discount.
University students 10 per cent off, while senior citizens aged 60 and above along with people with special needs can get 25 per cent discount.
All those with tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix will be able to enjoy three whole days of top-class motor racing as well as plenty of off-track family friendly entertainment, headlined by a spectacular live performance by international hip-hop superstar Pitbull.
For more information on the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix,
call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000 or visit bahraingp.com.