Bahrain Grand Prix 2023 start time: F1 practice, qualifying, race schedule on TV
Your complete guide to the Bahrain Grand Prix 2023 start time, plus full TV schedule for race weekend, including practice, qualifying and the GP itself.
The Bahrain Grand Prix has arrived with drivers across the grid ready for lights out in the new Formula 1 season.
Last year's race in Sakhir was the first since the technical regulation overhaul, with notably closer racing than in previous seasons and a terrific battle between Red Bull and Ferrari.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez each suffered catastrophic fuel system issues with their cars and were both forced to retire from the race, leaving Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz free to claim a significant victory for Ferrari.
This time around, Red Bull are in a state of tranquility. Verstappen boasts two consecutive world titles to his name, there's no merry-go-round for the second seat given Perez's form, and testing couldn't have been any smoother for the team.
Fans around the world will eagerly tune in for the first Grand Prix of the season this weekend with Bahrain set to offer many more answers to questions we've been asking since the cars were unveiled. Who will set the right tone at the start of a new globe-trotting adventure?
RadioTimes.com brings you the complete guide to the Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, including start time, dates and TV details, as well as our analysis of the big storylines to come.
Check out more Formula 1 coverage: F1 calendar 2023 | How to watch F1 on TV | F1 beginner's guide | F1 highlights | F1 presenters | F1 on Channel 4
Bahrain Grand Prix date
The Bahrain Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 5th March.
Check out our F1 calendar 2023 – link above – for the full list of races throughout the season.
Bahrain Grand Prix start time
The race begins promptly at 3pm UK time.
We've included the full schedule for the rest of the weekend, including practice and qualifying times, below.
Bahrain Grand Prix practice time
All UK time.
Friday 3rd March
From 11am on Sky Sports F1
Practice 1 – 11:30am
Practice 2 – 3pm
Saturday 4th March
From 11:15am on Sky Sports F1
Practice 3 – 11:30am
Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying time
Saturday 4th March
From 2pm on Sky Sports F1
Qualifying – 3pm
Bahrain Grand Prix race time
Sunday 5th March
From 1:30pm on Sky Sports F1
Race – 3pm
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How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix on TV
The Bahrain Grand Prix will air live on Sky Sports F1 from 1:30pm on Sunday 5th March.
All races will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event throughout the season.
Sky customers can add individual channels for just £18 per month or add the complete sports package to their deal for just £25 per month.
You can check out Box.co.uk for the latest TV deals to watch F1 in style throughout the season.
Live stream Bahrain Grand Prix online
Existing Sky Sports customers can live stream the race via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices.
You can watch the Grand Prix with a NOW Day Membership for £11.98 or a Monthly Membership for £33.99, all without signing up to a contract.
NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via BT Sport.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2023 preview
1. Red Bull retain momentum
It's hard to dominate testing in any greater fashion than Red Bull accomplished in Sakhir last weekend.
Christian Horner's team look imperious right now, their new creation is a natural evolution of their 2022 winning machine, and the fruit it bears is likely to be just as plentiful.
Simply, Red Bull have shown no weakness so far. On race weekend, anything and everything can and will happen, but it's going to take a whole lot of hijinks to halt the Red Bull stampede in Bahrain.
2. Mercedes's box of tricks
The season hasn't fully started yet and Toto Wolff is already playing up to his scheming supervillain persona with an ominous warning for the rest of the field. Mercedes are "still hiding a bit".
And we have no reason to doubt him. Mercedes have deployed countless tweaks and eye-raising tricks in previous years (DAS, anyone?), so it's hard to claim he's simply bluffing.
Wolff believes the W14 car was out of balance during testing, not riding in an optimal set-up, and Lewis Hamilton has already praised the new car compared to last season's which started a long way off the pace. Never rule out the Silver Black Arrows.
3. Keep an eye on Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin appeared to be the most exciting team in testing with some excellent results and a seemingly rapid car at their disposal.
We've been waiting for Aston Martin to truly find their feet in the sport, but Sebastian Vettel showed flashes of great encouragement after collecting 10 finishes inside the top 10 last season.
Fernando Alonso will take up the mantle as the Aston Martin team's greatest hope for glory and his consistent campaign in the Alpine last year suggests he could be an early force to be reckoned with in 2023.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2023 prediction
Red Bull simply look like the most well-oiled team unit across the grid right now.
The new season should bring uncertainty, but we saw nothing at testing to suggest anything other than another typical display of power is on the way from reigning champion Max Verstappen.
That's not to say it won't be an intriguing race, but there is an overwhelming favourite to claim the first crown of the season.
RadioTimes.com Bahrain GP predicted winner: Max Verstappen
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Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
