FORMULA ONE fans have been warned against buying tickets from ‘unauthorised’ sources.
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) yesterday advised citizens and residents to purchase the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix tickets only from authorised sellers via official channels.
It also cautioned that tickets purchased elsewhere could be declared invalid or cancelled.
The warning was issued after online sales platforms and social media groups were inundated with advertisements for Bahrain F1 single-day tickets and much sought after weekend Grandstand seats.
The GDN reported on Tuesday that tickets for the Paddock Club, corporate box and Bahrain Grand Prix club have all been sold out. Organisers said ‘only a few’ more tickets were left for the kingdom’s biggest sporting and entertainment event, which begins tomorrow and runs until Sunday at the BIC.
“We strongly advise fans interested in purchasing F1 tickets to do so through BIC official channels and authorised resellers,” the BIC said in a statement yesterday.
Given the limited number of seats available for this weekend, the circuit added that it was aware of ‘a number of unauthorised ticket sellers’ trying to make some quick money.
“BIC cannot take responsibility for tickets purchased through unauthorised channels and there can be no guarantee that such tickets are genuine,” it said, adding that they could also be subject to cancellation.
BIC hopes to gather an estimated 30,000 fans this weekend to witness the trackside and entertainment spectacle.
The Sakhir circuit has five covered seating areas – Main, Batelco and Turn One Grandstands and the Victory and University complexes. Ticket prices vary, with selected access to a range of areas including the paddock club above the team garages, F1 paddock, pit lanes and guided track tours.
The Main Grandstand with a 10,500 seating capacity, opposite the pits, is the most expensive at Sakhir, being priced at $439 (BD165), followed by the Batelco stands, the only viewing area inside the circuit, available for $346 (BD130). The cheaper Turn One costs $293 (BD110) and the University and Victory Complexes cost $173 (BD65).
As of yesterday, 1,026 tickets were available for the Victory complex and 540 for the University complex, while the Main, Turn One and Batelco grandstands were sold out.
The GDN contacted a Bahraini man who posted a sales advert. He said he had won two Turn One grandstand tickets on a raffle draw which he wished to sell. “I don’t want to go (to see the race), so I am selling it, I am selling it for BD140 for three days, including parking,” the bank employee told the GDN.
“I am not selling it for profit, nor am I trying to cheat anyone, you can come to my office and see the ticket and buy it only if you are convinced.”
Another man posted an advert claiming that he had nine tickets to sell for BD90 each, which he said was ‘negotiable’ if taken together.
“Want to sell nine F1 Turn one Grandstand tickets including parking pass for BD90 each, if you wish to buy all of them, there will be discount,” he said.
When the GDN reached out to him, he offered three tickets for BD210 as the ‘last price’ for three days, including parking.
A Bahraini man from Jid Ali said he had one BD25 ticket to the Victory complex for Saturday, which he was willing to sell for BD19. “I don’t want it and you can trust me, it is a genuine ticket.”
This could not be verified.
Official tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix 2022 can be purchased online at bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on 1745 0000.
Tickets are also available at the BIC stand in City Centre Bahrain.
Discounts are available for children aged three to 12 years old at 50 per cent off, with reductions for students, people of determination and senior citizens.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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