MOTORSPORT – FORMULA One is all set to roar into action in Bahrain next week in its highly anticipated ‘new era’ with F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026 taking place at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’ will be hosting two three-day sessions of the F1 tests – first from next Wednesday to February 13 and then from February 18 to 20.
With a host of transformative new regulations and an 11th team joining the grid in the upcoming 2026 FIA F1 World Championship, the six days of testing will be the first chance for F1 fans in the kingdom and around the world to witness in person the next generation of F1 cars on track ahead of the start of the new campaign.
F1 enthusiasts will be able to access the tests on the last two days of each three-day session, including on February 12 and 13 and on February 19 and 20. Tickets cost BD10 per day for adults and BD5 per day for children.
There is also free access on both open days of the second Bahrain test on February 19 and 20 for all who purchased their tickets to the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 during BIC’s Early Bird promotion. This means that fans who had bought tickets before September 8 last year will have access to both public days of the second test.
To buy tickets or to get more information, visit the circuit’s official website bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000.
BIC is also offering exclusive hospitality packages during testing, featuring the best views of the action along with incredible, five-star cuisine and beverage selection throughout the day. The hospitality lounge is located right above the F1 pit lane.
Full details on BIC’s hospitality offerings are available on bahraingp.com. The packages can be booked online or by calling +973-17451086.
This year’s F1 pre-season tests will be the sixth consecutive year that Sakhir has been selected as the venue for F1’s most important preparation period ahead of the new world championship. Testing was first held in Bahrain in 2009 and then again in 2014. They have since taken place in Bahrain each year from 2021.
The event will bring together all 11 F1 teams and it will be the first opportunity for fans in Bahrain and worldwide to see the brand new Cadillac F1 Team, who are set to join reigning constructors’ world champions McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Williams, Haas, Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Alpine, and Audi in motorsport’s top flight.
F1 held a pre-season ‘shakedown’ last week in Barcelona, Spain, which took place over five days behind closed doors with no fans or live television broadcast.
The Bahrain tests will pave the way for the start of the new season, which will kick off a couple of weeks later with the Australian Grand Prix weekend, scheduled for March 6 to 8. F1’s star drivers and teams will then continue their battles with races in China and Japan, before returning to the kingdom for the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 from April 10 to 12 – the fourth round of the 24-race world championship.
Tickets to the grand prix weekend are selling fast, with seats in both the Main Grandstand and Turn One Grandstand already 95 per cent sold. Tickets are also selling out quickly for the Beyon Grandstand, University Grandstand, and Victory Grandstand.
To buy tickets or for more information on F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2026, the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026, or on other events and activities at BIC, visit bahraingp.com, call the BIC Hotline, or follow the circuit on social media.
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