As F1 begins their 2023 season, here is a guide to everything that you need to know about 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix.
After three days of testing in the desert last weekend, F1 finally gets its new season underway with Red Bull and Max Verstappen both looking to defend their titles amidst potential stronger competition from Ferrari and Mercedes.
This weekend will also offer the first proper opportunity to see how the midfield pecking order is shaping up after an unclear picture emerged in testing.
Now, here is everything that you need to know ahead of the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Track Guide
Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit
Laps: 57
Race Distance: 308.405km
Tyre Compounds: C1, C2 & C3
Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (GMT) |
| Friday 3 March | FP1 | 11:30am |
| Friday 3 March | FP2 | 3pm |
| Saturday 4 March | FP3 | 11:30am |
| Saturday 4 March | Qualifying | 3pm |
| Sunday 5 March | Race | 3pm |
Four Key Pointers
- After enjoying a dominant test, Red Bull be the hot favourites for victory in this season-opener but they haven’t won the first race of a new season since 2011 Australian Grand Prix.
- This weekend will be the first proper opportunity to discover Ferrari and Mercedes’ true pace after relatively quiet tests focused mainly on data gathering and long runs.
- McLaren face an uphill task coming into this weekend after struggling with reliability issues and lacking pace, unless they are simply sandbagging which seems unlikely.
- Having enjoyed a competitive test, Williams could well be a team to watch out for across the weekend as they look to move up the pecking order amongst midfield teams.
Last Time Out
Verstappen dominated two of the three practice sessions but it was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who proceeded to claim pole, before he then fought off a series of first-corner lunges by Verstappen to eventually win the race.
Carlos Sainz meanwhile made it a Ferrari one-two finish after Verstappen suffered a power unit failure three laps from the checkered flag, which was followed by a spin for Verstappen’s teammate – Sergio Perez on the final lap at the first corner after his power unit locked up.