Bahrain Grand Prix

Some useful information for the FORMULA 1 race weekend in Bahrain

Circuit Transfer Information

Circuit transfer departure times

Saturday

Depart GOLDEN TULIP – 11:00

Depart CROWNE PLAZA – 11:05

Depart GULF HOTEL – 11:15

Depart circuit – 19:45

Sunday

Depart GOLDEN TULIP – 10:20

Depart CROWNE PLAZA – 10:25

Depart GULF HOTEL – 10:35

Depart circuit – 20:45

Please be ready and waiting outside your hotel reception at least 5 minutes before the stated departure time, as the coach will leave promptly.

On your way into the circuit on Saturday and Sunday morning, Craig will confirm exactly where the meeting point and coach parking location will be.

At the end of the evening, do make sure you leave enough time to get from your grandstand to the meeting point.

You do not require a voucher for your circuit transfers.

Our MST team member Craig will be on hand over the weekend. He will also be accompanying the coach transfers, should you need anything. You can also contact us via the emergency telephone number at the foot of this information guide, should you need to.

If you are not at the coach by the stated departure time, and you have not made us aware you’re not taking the coach transfer (either in person to Craig, or via the emergency telephone number at the foot of 
this information guide), we will assume you will make your own way, which will be at your own cost.

If you’re heading to the circuit on Thursday or Friday, or want to travel at times other than our circuit transfer times, then the circuit has just confirmed their complimentary shuttle service that picks up at Manama hotels. Please note the shuttle  service runs as a loop and so there are no specific pick up times – it is a case of waiting for the bus to arrive. 

The shuttle service will run from Manama hotels to the circuit every 45 minutes from 10:00-16:00 and will return every 45 minutes from 18:00-23:00. The hotels it picks up and drops off from are:

Sofitel, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, InterContinental Regency, Nordic Palace & Spa-Seef, Ibis Hotel Manama, Ibis Styles Diplomatic, Gulf Hotel, The K Hotel and The Olive Hotel.

Bahrain International Circuit

Friday Schedule

09:45 – 10:30

Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East First Practice

10:55 – 11:40

FIA Formula 3 Practice Session

12:05 – 12:50

FIA Formula 2 Practice Session

14:30 – 15:30

FORMULA 1 First Practice Session

16:00 – 16:30

FIA Formula 3 Qualifying Session

18:00 – 19:00

FORMULA 1 Second Practice Session

19:30 – 20:00

FIA Formula 2 Qualifying Session

20:25 – 21:10

Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Second Practice Session

Saturday Schedule

11:05 – 11:35

Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Qualifying Session

12:15 – 13:00

FIA Formula 3 Sprint Race 1 (20 Laps or 40 Mins + 1 Lap)

13:15 – 13:45

FORMULA 1 Team Pit Stop Practice

14:30 – 15:30

FORMULA 1 Third Practice Session

16:15 – 17:05

FIA Formula 2 Sprint Race (23 Laps or 45 Mins + 1 Lap)

18:00 – 19:00

FORMULA 1 Qualifying Session

19:45 – 20:15

Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East First Race (11 Laps or 25 Mins)

20:30

Craig David concert – included with 3-day tickets

Sunday Schedule

11:50 – 12:40

FIA Formula 3 Feature Race (23 Laps or 45 Mins + 1 Lap)

13:20 – 14:25

FIA Formula 2 Feature Race (32 Laps or 60 Mins + 1 Lap)

14:50 – 15:20

Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Second Race (11 Laps or 25 Mins)

16:00 – 16:30

FORMULA 1 Drivers’ Parade

17:44 – 17:46

National Anthem

18:00 – 20:00

FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX (57 Laps or 120 Mins)

Please note that all times are local times and are subject to change without notification by the FIA, Liberty Media and Bahrain International Circuit. For up-to-date times, please click here

If you are not at the meeting point by the stated departure time, and you have not made us aware you’re not taking the coach transfer (either in person to Craig, or via the emergency telephone number at the foot of 
this information guide), we will assume you will make your own way, which will be at your own cost.

IF THERE IS A DELAY OR SCHEDULE CHANGE ON SATURDAY: the coach will leave the circuit 45 minutes after the FORMULA 1 Qualifying Session  finishes (i.e. 45 minutes after the session has officially finished). If there is any extended or rolling delay without confirmed restart times that may affect the coach departure time, we will keep you updated via Craig and via the email and phone number we have on your booking.

IF THERE IS A DELAY OR SCHEDULE CHANGE TO THE RACE ON SUNDAY: the coach will leave the circuit 45 minutes after the FORMULA 1 Grand Prix finishes (i.e. 45 minutes after the winner has crossed the line). If there is any extended or rolling delay without confirmed restart times that may affect the coach departure time, we will keep you updated via Craig and via the email and phone number we have on your booking.

At The Circuit

Security staff may conduct bag and/or body checks at the gates and for safety reasons, the following items are prohibited: knives, fireworks, drones, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, phone jammers, radio scanners, walkie-talkies, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety or items including protest (of a political, religious or other nature) or offensive slogans or messages. Any person in possession of such items will be refused entry to the Venue.

The circuit usually holds a Thursday Pit Lane Walk, however this has not yet been confirmed for 2023.  If and when it is confirmed, we will update this guide and notify you.

You can also attend the live concerts on Friday and Saturday – DJ Snake will be lighting up the Main Stage on the Friday evening, and the pie & only Craig David will take to the stage on Saturday performing his TS5 DJ set. The concerts will take place at the end of the day’s racing action, so please note that you would need to make your own way back to your hotel after the concert.

We always recommend bringing tissues or wipes and hand sanitiser to all race circuits.

Credit/debit cards and cash are both accepted at the circuit food & beverage stalls and merchandise stalls.

Visitors are not permitted to make/create/store/record or transmit any sound recording or audio visual footage of the event for any commercial purposes. Personal electronic devices such as mobile phones, cameras or hand held personal communication devices are allowed as long as the images are for private, personal and non commercial use.

Attendance indicates consent to photography, filming and sound recording which may include you as an attendee and its use in commercial distribution without payment or copyright.

By attending, you are agreeing to the circuit’s terms & conditions of entry.

Our Hints & Tips

TAXIS & LIMOS Taxis are privately-run and are regulated by the Bahrain government. The Concierge team at the hotel will book a taxi, should you need one. You can also book via the free iOS and Android apps ‘Bahrain Taxi’ and ‘Gulf Taxi’. Uber is also available in Bahrain.

Taxis are metered, although some older taxis may negotiate a price in advance. A tip isn’t expected but is always welcome.

Alternatively a limo service can be booked via your hotel concierge, although this will be more expensive than taxis.

GENERAL INFORMATION Bahrain is three hours ahead of the UK.

Three-pin plug sockets are standard.

The local currency is the Bahraini Dinar (BD) which is divided into 100 fils. 1BD is approximately £2.00.

Most shops, hotels and restaurants accept debit and credit cards and contactless payments. The easiest way to obtain cash, should you need it, is via an ATM machine. Your hotel reception will also be able to exchange money if you need it.

Tipping isn’t expected but it is commonly practised. Many restaurants include a service charge within the price, and the menu will indicate this if it’s the case. If service charges are not included and you have had a good experience then you might like to leave a 10-15% tip.

The weather in March tends to reach around 24-26ºC during the daytime and drops to around 15ºC at night.

DRESS CODE IN BAHRAIN Bahrain is a Muslim country and, whilst the dress code is not as strict as neighbouring states, it’s good to show respect to the local population.

Skirts or trousers should be knee-length or longer. Don’t wear tight-fitting clothes or expose thighs, cleavage, midriff, shoulders or upper arms. Short sleeved tops are acceptable.

It is a good idea to carry a loose jacket or shawl with you, even in hot weather, as air conditioning can be extremely cold.  

We recommend bringing a jacket or pashmina to the circuit as the temperature quickly drops when the sun goes down.

UK Office Number

+44 207 183 2022

Emergency Number

+44 207 183 8960

Please note our emergency number will be available over the race weekend when our main office is closed. Please leave a message, clearly stating your name, reference number and contact number and we will call you back. Office Hours are Monday to Thursday 09:00-17:30 GMT, Friday 09:00-16:00, Saturday and Sunday CLOSED

Please note that any messages left on our main office number when we are closed will not be picked up until we reopen on Monday morning, and the same applies to any emails sent. For this reason we recommend you save our emergency number +44 207 183 8960 to your phone.

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