The Bahrain Grand Prix has the longest contract in Formula 1 after signing a new long-term deal keeping the race on the calendar until 2036.
Bahrain has long had a close relationship with F1, having taken the season opener away from Australia at times, held two races during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and reclaimed the opening race for 2021 and the bumper 23-round season planned for 2022.
It became F1’s first race in the Middle East in 2004 (pictured below) and while the championship’s presence in the region has been expanded since then, Bahrain remains an obvious priority.
New grands prix in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have long-term, high-paying deals with F1 until the 2030s while Abu Dhabi, the annual season-closing race, extended its own deal last year to run to 2030.
Now Bahrain has cemented something even greater with a contract that runs to 2036.
Bahrain will host the second pre-season test on March 10-12, the week before the first round of the season. It is being billed as the season launch event by F1.
“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 and president 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 was the first country in the Middle East to welcome Formula 1 and it has a very special place in our sport.”
