Bahrain International Circuit kicks off three days of Formula 1 pre-season testing

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Formula 1’s 2021 contenders will be on track together for the first time this year as Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hosts the first of three days of pre-season testing today in Sakhir.

The much-anticipated sessions continue until Sunday and are being held a fortnight ahead of the new Championship campaign, which flags off with the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 from March 26 to 28 at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”.

Tickets to the race weekend are now available for all vaccinated or COVID-19 recovered individuals.

They are on sale at bahraingp.com with a single discounted price of BD100 across stands for the three-day event.

The F1 tests will have running from morning until the early evening.

They are scheduled to begin each day at 10 am and continue until 2 pm.

Following an hour-long break, the action resumes from 3 pm to 7 pm.

F1 testing follows the completion of three days of Formula 2 pre-season tests at BIC, held from Monday to Wednesday earlier this week.

Both tests are taking place without spectators, as the circuit prepares for fans for the main event at the end of this month.

This year’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be the first of a record 23 rounds.

Aside from the racing, fans can look forward to a wide array of fun activities at BIC’s F1 Village vending area, including a selection of wild outdoor rides and other attractions.

Comprehensive measures will be put in place at the circuit to ensure spectators can enjoy the excitement of F1 in a safe environment.

The teams, their cars and drivers:

Mercedes, W12 car: Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas Red Bull Racing

RB16B: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez McLaren

MCL35M: Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo Aston Martin

AMR21: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll Alpine

A521: Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon Ferrari

SF21: Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc AlphaTauri

AT02: Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly Alfa Romeo

C41: Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi Haas

VF-21: Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin Williams

FW43B: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi