SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - Bahrain has been chosen again to host Formula 1's pre-season testing in 2025, even though it won’t hold the first race of the season next year.
Since 2021, the Bahrain International Circuit has been the place for pre-season testing, having exclusive rights for the last two years.
To reduce costs, F1 has shortened pre-season testing to just one session over three days for the past two years, and this format will continue in 2025. That year will also be the final season under the current technical rules. Teams and drivers will be on the Bahrain track from February 26 to 28.
Bahrain has been part of the F1 calendar since 2004, as the first Middle Eastern country to host a race. The 2024 event celebrated the circuit’s 20th anniversary.
In the past 20 years, the 5.41 km Bahrain circuit has seen nine different winners from five teams, with current stars like Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc among those taking victories.
The 2025 F1 season, marking the sport's 75th year, will have 24 races. It will begin with the Australian Grand Prix from March 14-16 and end with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7, visiting five continents in the process.
To support F1's goal of becoming Net Zero by 2030, a large portion of the freight will stay in Bahrain after testing, in preparation for the Bahrain Grand Prix from April 11-13.
Even though Bahrain won’t host the season opener to avoid a conflict with Ramadan, it will still be part of the schedule. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will also move to April, and together with Bahrain and Japan, these races will form a triple-header.
Australia will return as the season-opening race from March 14-16, reclaiming its pre-pandemic spot after the 2020 and 2021 races were canceled.
In keeping with F1's sustainability goals, a significant amount of the freight will remain in Bahrain between the pre-season test and the Grand Prix.
