RACING fans of all ages, nationalities and team loyalties flocked to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) yesterday as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend kicked into high gear.
As top racers assaulted the asphalt, fans off the track were treated to roaming acts, a haunted house, obstacle courses, driver interviews and a concert by a Grammy-nominated DJ.
“This is my first time at the Grand Prix although I have watched it on the TV for many years, and it’s at least a hundred times better to be here in-person,” Mariam Abdulla, 25, told the GDN. “I am rooting for Lewis Hamilton and I hope he wins his eighth championship this year.”
With the stands completely sold out for the first time in the BIC’s 19-year-history, the vending area was swarming with families, couples and fans donning their favourite team’s gear.
Lines were seen outside most of the rides as those attending primarily for the entertainment enjoyed the race simulators, while also exploring the various booths.
Fans from all around the world drove and flew into the country, including the ‘Orange Army’ – Dutch fans attending the season-opening race to ensure their favourite, reigning world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, gets off to a flying start.
A trio of Verstappen brothers – no relation to the champion racer – were gifted tickets by their father, another Verstappen, to come cheer on their family namesake Verstappen in Bahrain. For Hans, Peter and Onno Verstappen, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the Grand Prix in a country outside their own.
“We have been F1 fans since our late teens,” the middle-aged brothers told the GDN excitedly.
The youngest brother Hans added: “Actually, I cheered on Max’s father Jos at the first-ever Grand Prix I attended at home. And now, it’s amazing to see his son at the top of the motorsport world and to cheer him on as he starts the season in Bahrain.”
The trio are hoping to see Max Verstappen win his first-ever Bahrain Grand Prix this year, with the Orange Army cheering him on from the sidelines.
Bahrain-based French fan Bastien Mignot, meanwhile, hopes to see his fellow nationals Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon racing for French team Alpine, move up the scoreboard.
“Of course, I am rooting for Alpine – I am French!” he exuded, waving his French-flag-themed cape and pronouncing the team name correctly – Alp-een, with a long ‘e’ not Al-pine with an ‘i’.
“It’s exciting to see two French drivers racing for the team. I don’t know if they will win this year, but it’d be great to see them improve on last year.
“I really hope to see Charles Leclerc win the championship this year, even though he is not French.”
Meanwhile, a host of fans from neighbouring Gulf countries also made it to the Grand Prix, some for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic put a hamper on social events.
Colombian fan Oscar Barajas, 49, drove in from Saudi Arabia with his family including wife Angela Guzman, 40, and one-year-old son Benjamin.
“This is the third Bahrain Grand Prix we have attended, with the last two being in 2017 and 2019, so it’s the first time since the pandemic that we have come to the island for F1, though we do visit regularly,” Mr Barajas explained.
“Charles Leclerc is our favourite racer and we hope he repeats his win from last year! In the meantime, we are enjoying the activities here in the vending area. As always, it is really well organised and there are a lot of fun things to do for the children.”
Bahrain’s own die-hard Ferrari fans were not left in the dust, as droves of them donned their ‘Tifosi red’ shirts, with hopes that the team’s new strategy and direction can lead it back to the top of the scoreboard.
“Overall, the team did really well last year, though they were not able to bring home the championship,” 15-year-old Ali Awachi added.
“I hope they can learn from their mistakes from last year. I wish they can win it this year, though it’s been a long time since they raced a proper championship, pretty much since the Schumacher days.”
Bahrain-owned F1 team McLaren also had its set of fans, with numerous Number 4 (Lando Norris’s racing number) t-shirts dotting the stands and vending area.
“Lando did really well and he was the ‘best of the rest’ as in the top racer after the big three teams (Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari) and got P7 overall last year,” 20-year-old Christian Bucknell noted.
“I hope he does just as well, if not better this year, and I am here for the second year in a row, cheering him on.”
In the evening, Grammy-nominated DJ Snake entertained audiences, followed by an after-party for Dome Lounge ticketholders.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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