Manama: Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East', hosted the official launch event of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 - part of F1's highly anticipated first season in its 'new era'. The Kingdom's sporting and entertainment spectacle is scheduled for April 10-12 in Sakhir, and it will be marking the fourth round of the 2026 FIA F1 World Championship.
According to Bahrain News Agency, with sweeping new regulations coming into effect and an 11th F1 team joining the grid, the excitement and anticipation is at an all-time high ahead of the new campaign. Details of what to expect in Bahrain's F1 extravaganza were announced at today's launch. In attendance at the BIC Media Centre as a special guest for the event was Andrea Stella, Team Principal of back-to-back F1 Constructors' World Champions McLaren; alongside Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, BIC Chief Executive; Martin Gauss, Gulf Air CEO; and world-renowned F1 presenter and commentator David Croft.
Stella shared his thoughts about the upcoming F1 campaign, with the top flight's teams all rolling out brand-new cars that are smaller, narrower, and lighter than previous years, making them more agile and thus promoting more action on track. The cars will also boast more environmentally friendly power units featuring a 50-50 split between internal combustion engine and electric power along with new active aerodynamics with different modes and a boost button to overtake. A replica of the 2026 F1 car in Bahrain livery was unveiled during the launch.
Also entering this campaign, an all-new team in Cadillac will be competing in the world championship, joining McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Williams, Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas, Alpine, and Audi, who have rebranded after racing last season as Kick Sauber. After welcoming a record sell-out crowd for a third straight year in 2025, Shaikh Salman revealed today that tickets for the 2026 race weekend have been selling fast, with Turn 1 Grandstand sold out and main grandstand 98% sold with two months still to go before the grand prix.
Shaikh Salman bin Isa commented on the outlook for 2026, reflecting the popularity of motorsport in Bahrain and around the world. The slogan for this year's grand prix is "The Island of Racing Passion," intended to reflect Bahrain's history in motorsport, which dates back decades before BIC hosted the region's first-ever F1 grand prix. He noted the pride in Bahrain's racing history and the growing passion of the fans and the generation in Bahrain who have grown up with F1.
Gulf Air CEO Martin Gauss spoke of the partnership between Formula 1 and the Kingdom's national carrier, expressing pride in the longstanding partnership with the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, a relationship that dates back to the very first race in 2004.
This season, the star-studded field of 22 F1 drivers, including four F1 Drivers' World Champions, will be led by reigning World Champion Lando Norris. Piastri was last year's winner in the Kingdom, delivering the first-ever victory in Sakhir for McLaren. Hamilton, Alonso, Verstappen, and Leclerc have also won past editions of the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
BIC has put together a programme filled with off-track attractions for the whole family to enjoy during F1 weekend. A water spectacular circus will be a major part of this year's entertainment lineup. Live shows on stage featuring various performers, such as Hot Wheels, Barbie, Blippi, and many other popular characters, will entertain younger fans. The fan-favourite Ferris Wheel returns, alongside a wide variety of roaming acts across BIC's F1 Village.
For motorsport enthusiasts, F1 Fan Zone will offer motorsport activations. BIC also announced that multi-platinum DJ and producer Martin Garrix will perform live on the Friday night of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026. Aside from the grand prix, BIC will host six days of F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026, divided into two three-day sessions, with fans having access on the last two days of each session.