F1 announces bumper Bahrain GP extension to 2036

F1

The Bahrain Grand Prix will now be held until at least 2036, as F1 announces a 14-year new deal with the Sakhir circuit

Sparks at the start of the 2021 Bahrain grand prix

F1 will be visiting Bahrain till at least well into the 2030s

Grand Prix Photo

Author

James Elson

Formula 1 has announced that the Bahrain Grand Prix will now be staying on the calendar till at least 2036, with a 14-year contract extension – one of the longest race agreements ever agreed.

The grand prix circus has been calling into the Sakhir Circuit since 2004, holding 18 races in total including a thrilling extra race held in 2020 on the ‘oval’ layout, won by Sergio Perez for Racing Point.

Now it appears as if F1 has made good on the massive increase in interest in the championship over the past year – partly fuelled by the Netflix Drive to Survive effect, plus Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s titanic title scrap – to secure one of the longest-running deals in the championship, with other lengthy agreements also reached. Qatar has recently signed a deal of ten years to run a Doha-based street race from 2023, whilst Saudi Arabia is heading into the second year of a decade-long stay on the calendar also.

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The official pre-season test is to be held at Bahrain, with exclusive television rights following the print-media only ‘shakedown’ at Barcelona, as well as the opening race of the season.

“I am delighted we will be racing at the Bahrain International Circuit until 2036 where more incredible racing and excitement will be on show to thrill our fans,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “Since 2004 we have had some fantastic races in Sakhir and we cannot wait to be back there for the start of the 2022 championship as we begin a new era for the sport.

Bahrain is also onboard with F1’s plan to be net-zero in terms of carbon emissions by 2030, announcing that this year all energy to power the night-race event will come from sustainable sources.

“Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East to welcome Formula 1 and it has a very special place in our sport, and I personally want to thank HRH Prince Salman and his team for their dedication and hard work throughout our partnership and look forward to the many years of racing ahead of us.”

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