Formula 1 makes its annual trip to Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix and the first night race of the 2025 season.

After Max Verstappen showed his class with a stunning victory in Suzuka, McLaren will look to hit back on a track they were strong at during pre-season testing.

Lando Norris still leads the Drivers’ Championship by one point from Verstappen, with Oscar Piastri 13 points behind his McLaren team-mate.

Mercedes are McLaren’s closest challengers in the Constructors’ Championship but are 36 points adrift after three rounds.

Aside from Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint win in China, it has not been the start to 2025 that Ferrari wanted but on a familiar track to all the teams and drivers, they will look to join the fight at the front on a circuit which should better suit their car.

F1 Drivers' Championship ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix
F1 Drivers' Championship ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix

Image:
F1 Drivers’ Championship ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain GP track – Bahrain International Circuit

The Bahrain Grand Prix first joined the F1 calendar in 2004 and has been on the schedule every season, apart from 2011.

It became a night race in 2014, when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg famously had an incredible race-long battle for the lead.

For wheel-to-wheel racing, Bahrain is one of the best tracks on the calendar due to its long straights and heavy braking zones, which allows the drivers to fight throughout the first sector.

The Bahrain Grand Prix held the F1 season-opener from 2021 to 2024 but has moved to the fourth race of the 2025 season due to Ramadan.

Bahrain GP weather in Sakhir

Although it surprisingly rained for a short period during pre-season testing earlier this year, there is no rain on the Sakhir weather forecast this week. In fact, it is set to be sunny, but breezy, from Friday to Sunday.

Temperatures will be in the low 30s for the day time sessions, before dropping to the late 20s for qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday, which are held at night.

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Ride onboard with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso as the former team-mates battled it out in the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain GP dates, UK start time and Sky Sports F1’s live schedule – practice, qualifying and race

Thursday April 10

2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference

Friday April 11

8.50am: F3 Practice10am: F2 Practice12pm: Bahrain GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)*1.55pm: F3 Qualifying2.40pm: F2 Qualifying3.35pm: Bahrain GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday April 12

11.10am: F3 Sprint Race1.15pm: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30pm)3.10pm: F2 Sprint4.10pm: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up5pm: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING7pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday April 13

10.50am: F3 Feature Race12.20pm: F2 Feature Race2.30pm: Bahrain GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday4pm: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX6pm: Bahrain GP reaction: Chequered Flag7pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

How to watch or stream the Bahrain Grand Prix in the UK and Ireland

Got Sky?

TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 from the first practice session on Friday afternoon to the Bahrain Grand Prix itself on Sunday, April 13 at 4pm

App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app – with the option to go onboard with any driver!

Not got Sky?

Stream: Non Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass

Live blog: Anyone on the move can follow live coverage of the race weekend through our dedicated F1 blog

FREE Highlights: Watch F1 highlights shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app

How to watch the Bahrain GP on mobile with the Sky Sports app

Sky Sports Subscribers can:

Download or open the Sky Sports appHead to the ‘Watch’ section at 2,30pm for build-up, ahead of lights out at 4pmTap on the Sky Sports F1 channelSign in with your Sky iD (*you’ll only need to do this once)

*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD

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It’s an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. It offers contract-free membership options, so customers can cancel anytime!

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Formula 1 continues its triple-header in Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime