F1’s star drivers and team officials to take the stage in fan forums

AFP | London

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, announced today that race-goers attending the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 will be able to see and hear from their favourite drivers and team officials in a series of fan forums.

The sport’s most popular figures will be appearing on the main stage of BIC’s vending area on the Friday and Saturday of F1 weekend.

Those attending will be able to enjoy live interview sessions with F1’s biggest stars. The fan forums are tremendously popular amongst those attending F1 week at BIC. Fans interested in being a part of this year’s programme are advised to arrive at the main stage early to get the best views of the drivers and officials.

First appearing on Friday from 12.40pm to 12.50pm are the Racing Bulls pair of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Williams’ Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz will then take to the stage from 12.50pm to 1pm, and then McLaren’s constructors’ world title-winning tandem of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will get in the spotlight from 1pm to 1.10pm.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, along with Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, will then appear from 1.10pm to 1.20pm. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer will then be on stage from 4.30pm to 4.40pm, and then Mercedes’ popular Team Principal Toto Wolff will be sharing his insights from 4.4pm to 4.50pm. Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich will wrap up the fan forums’ Friday schedule from 5.25pm to 5.35pm.

On Saturday, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman will be first on stage from 1.05pm to 1.15pm. Ferrari superstars Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will then draw the crowds from 1.45pm to 1.55pm. From 2pm to 2.10pm, Mercedes tandem George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will take to the stage, after which the duo of drivers’ world champion Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing will appear for the fans along with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan of Alpine.

An F2 showcase will then complete the fan forum programme on Saturday evening from 8pm to 8.30pm.

The upcoming F1 weekend marks the fourth round of the 2025 FIA F1 World Championship. It will celebrate the 75th anniversary of both F1 and Bahrain’s national carrier and grand prix title sponsor Gulf Air.

The 57-lap main event on Sunday will be the first night race of the season. Taking place under BIC’s bright, state-of-the-art floodlights, it will be showcasing to the world that “The Desert Never Sleeps”.

This year’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is expected to be another record-breaking event for the Kingdom of Bahrain and BIC. All grandstand tickets to the race weekend have already completely sold out, including seats at the Main, Turn 1, Beyon, University, and Victory grandstands.