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More than 35,000 fans flocked to the Bahrain International Circuit last Sunday, excited for the return of the kingdom’s biggest sporting event after a two-year restriction on fans attending the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
In total, the race weekend saw an attendance of 98,000 visitors, who watched the support races, enjoyed the vending area and geared up for the final grand prix showdown between Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.
Fans rode the 42-metre Ferris wheel with 27 gondolas to get a magnificent sky-high view of the circuit as others wandered through the vending area, enjoying the street performances.
These charming characters hailing from all across the globe included Katastrofa Clown, Papito, Pop the Balloon Man, Toy Brigade, The Eccentrics, Travelling Fun Fair, Abraham Thill, Aras Stilt Band, the Joker group, Colour Dancers, Dr Bubbles, Funky Style Band and Jam Batucada.
There will also be unique fan experiences, thrilling carnival rides like the Ghost Rider, a wide range of food and beverage outlets, stalls selling official F1 and BIC merchandise, and much more.
Some even wandered around to the eSports and golf activations, to compete with friends and strangers for fantastic giveaways, while others explored stands like the Al Haddad Mercedes kiosk, getting a closer look at their favourite cars.
On Friday evening, award-winning DJs Afrojack and Don Diablo got the crowd dancing and cheering near the stage located in the concourse behind the main grandstand.
Meanwhile, in the Paddock area, Paddock Club guests and VIPs mingled with team principals and officials, while their children waited with baited breath for a chance to meet their favourite drivers.
Donning a Max Verstappen ‘Orange Army’ sweatshirt, karting star Shaikh Rashid bin Salman Al Khalifa was one of the eager fans, with an eagle eye for drivers.
“I am excited to finally be back at the paddock and see some of my favourite drivers,” he told GulfWeekly, before jetting away to get a cap inscribed by Mercedes’ newest racer George Russell.
His father and the first Arab driver in the Formula 3 series (2005) Shaikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, meanwhile, continued, after taking a picture of his son getting the autograph, “After the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are excited to be back here, and the BIC team has done a phenomenal job of organising everything.”
