Top 10 Memorable Moments In The History Of The F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2wx4i

Formula One returns to Sakhir this weekend and here SportsCasting takes a look at the 10 most memorable moments in the history of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Bahrain GP has been on the F1 calendar every year bar one since it was introduced back in 2004.

This year, the likes of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will battle it out for the win at the 21st edition of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Below, SportsCasting takes a look at the 10 biggest moments in the history of the Japanese Grand Prix.

10 Biggest Moments In Bahrain Grand Prix History c2x1n

10. Michael Schumacher Dominates In 2004 1y605o

The first-ever Bahrain Grand Prix took place in one of the most dominant seasons in F1 history.

Michael Schumacher led from start to finish to take one of his 13 victories from an 18-race season.

Teammate Rubens Barcichello kept him honest to finish 1.3 seconds behind in second with Jenson Button completing the podium.

The highlight of the race was an epic battle between Fernando Alonso’s Renault and Mark Webber in the Jaguar – one which was won by the Spaniard who finished sixth.

9. Bahrain Grand Prix Heartbreak For Charles Leclerc 6t2i68

Charles Leclerc moved to Ferrari for the 2019 season after an excellent debut season with Alfa Romeo.

The Monegasque looked on course to win just his second race with the Scuderia after qualifying on pole and leading with just 11 laps of the race to go.

One of his engine cylinders stopped working though and this allowed the two Mercedes drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to get past him before the chequered flag.

Leclerc did take his first-ever podium in third but it was a crushing blow for the youngster. He would have to wait until race 13 to take his first victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.

8. Lewis Hamilton Hits Fernando Alonso f4q51

The 2007 season is often best ed for the bitter rivalry between McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Just two races into 2008, now in different teams, Hamilton crashed into the back of Alonso.

Hamilton was trying to recover lost positions at the start when he ran over the back of Alonso’s Renault. The Brit damaged his wing and was put out of contention.

There were suggestions put to Hamilton that Alonso might have brake-tested his former teammate. The Spaniard though insisted that Hamilton was caught out by the McLaren’s power advantage compared to his Renault.

7. Charles Leclerc v Max Verstappen 3m5p49

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen put on a thrilling battle in one of the greatest opening races to a F1 season of all time in 2022.

The Monegasque led from the start but the drama came after the first pitstops.

Verstappen ed Leclerc on Lap 17 only for the Ferrari driver to get straight past him three corners later.

The pair repeated the exchange the following lap before Verstappen locked up while trying to Leclerc on Lap 19.

Verstappen remained in contention for the win until Lap 54 when he retired with a power-related mechanical fault.

One of the best battles of the 2022 season happened on the streets of Saudi, between Leclerc and Verstappen! 🤯💪

Will we see a repeat this weekend? 🤞#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/TBJkSGh8ZX

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2023

6. Fernando Alonso Beats Michael Schumacher h4e1a

Fernando Alonso ended the Michael Schumacher era of dominance in 2005. However, the German didn’t have the machinery to try and stop the Spaniard.

However, in 2006, Ferrari were back on top form with Schumacher taking pole for the season-opener in Bahrain.

In the race, Alonso chased Schumacher all the way until the pit-stops when he attempted to do the overcut on the seven-time champion.

Alonso emerged from his stop side-by-side with Schumacher and didn’t flinch under mighty pressure.

It set the course for an epic title fight between the pair in the 2006 season.

5. Toyota Blow Only Chance Of F1 Victory 551j6c

Toyota never won a single Formula One Grand Prix during their eight-year stint in the sport in the 2000s.

Their best chance came in their final year of running at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix after they took a front-row lockout.

The team though made a strategy blunder on both cars by putting them on the harder compound tyres during the middle of the race.

Poleman Jarno Trulli ended up finishing third behind Jenson Button’s Brawn and Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull.

Timo Glock, who led the first stint of the race, only finished seventh after poor strategy undid his victory hopes.

4. Fernando Alonso’s Glorious Ferrari Debut 601e5j

One of the most memorable moments in Bahrain Grand Prix history is Fernando Alonso’s first victory with Ferrari.

Alonso was seen as the man to bring Ferrari back to their dominant best when he ed the team in 2010.

The three years since Michael Schumacher’s exit in 2006, saw just one drivers’ title with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 and one constructors’ championship in 2008.

Alonso began his Ferrari career in style by winning on his debut at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.

There was an element of luck as mechanical problems hit Sebastian Vettel. However, Alonso then charged away to take his first victory ahead of teammate Felipe Massa.

3. Lewis Hamilton v Max Verstappen Controversy Sets Up Epic 2021 Title Fight 6x6d1v

Lewis Hamilton won the opening race of the 2021 season after an epic and controversial fight with Max Verstappen.

Verstappen started on pole and the lead changed hands three times during the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Dutchman overtook Hamilton with just three laps left. But dramatically he was forced to cede the position back after executing the move off-track.

Verstappen was furious with the decision and told his team he could have built a five-second lead and take a penalty instead of handing it back to Hamilton.

The controversy carried on for the remainder of the season most ed for the dramatic ending that saw Verstappen take his first title in Abu Dhabi.

2. Romain Grosjean Walks Out Of Fire 54q4z

The 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix is ed most for Romain Grosjean’s massive fireball crash on the opening lap.

His Haas veered off track and split in two after crashing at 119mph. Grosjean’s car pierced through the guardrail at the apex of Turn 3 and caught fire in the kind of wreck that had not been seen in the sport for decades.

It took 28 seconds for Grosjean to emerge from the flaming wreckage like a phoenix bursting from the ashes.

Grosjean, missing a glove and shoe, climbed over the barrier and into the arms of Dr. Ian Roberts who was already on the scene.

The Frenchman in what proved to be his last race, suffered burns across his body, with the worst to his hands.

However, he returned to racing the following year in the Indycar series.

F1 driver Romain Grosjean escaped serious injury after being involved in a massive crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix which ripped his car in two and engulfed it in flames. pic.twitter.com/027oUB8tin

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 29, 2020

1. The Mercedes Duel In The Desert 6nu4c

The Bahrain Grand Prix in 2014 brought one of the most memorable moments in F1 history when Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg scrapped it out for victory.

Hamilton beat polesitter Rosberg at the start. The German immediately tried to get back past only to be forced wide on the exit curb by Hamilton.

After preserving his tyres, Rosberg crept back up on Hamilton and was on the back of him by Lap 18.

A battle for the ages ⚔️#OnThisDay in 2014, @MercedesAMGF1's Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg duelled in the desert 🇧🇭#F1 pic.twitter.com/u8JcGomtgp

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2020

Rosberg made a move down the inside of Turn 1 but Hamilton crossed back at the exit of the corner to retake the lead – nearly taking Rosberg’s front wing off.

The next lap the move worked out for Rosberg, only for Hamilton to get past him three corners later.

Despite several attacks from Rosberg, Hamilton held on for the win. After the race, the pair celebrated their battle together in a way that became increasingly rare as tensions rose during their three-year rivalry.