Ahead of the the 2021 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, we bring you a definitive guide to all the stats and facts you need about the season curtain-raiser. 

The circuit

The Bahrain International Circuit first hosted an F1 grand prix in 2004. 

Sunday's race will be contested over 57 laps of 3.363 miles, covering a total distance of 191.53 miles.

Lap record

For the present track layout, Pedro de la Rosa set the fastest time of 1min 31.447sec in his first start for McLaren on lap 43 of the 2005 Bahrain Grand Prix. 

Michael Schumacher holds the record for the original layout, setting a time of 1:30:252 in his Ferrari in 2004.   

Most wins

Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have won the Bahrain GP four times each. 

As well as sharing the record for most wins, they have also taken the most pole positions with three each. 

Most podium finishes

Hamilton, 36, has secured nine podium finishes, the most at the circuit, and has appeared on the podium in each of the last seven races he has contested in Bahrain. 

Kimi Raikkonen has featured on the Bahrain podium eight times but has never actually won the race. 

Is pole position an advantage?

Less than half of the grands prix in Bahrain have been won from pole position. Just seven of the 17 races at the track have been won from the front of the grid.

Although producing a relatively low number of winners, 14 of the 17 pole-sitters — and 14 of the 15 on the normal grand prix layout — have ended the race on the podium.

What is the lowest starting position to produce a winner?

At last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix on the circuit’s outer layout, Racing Point’s Sergio Perez claimed his maiden F1 victory having started in fifth place on the grid.

Team talk

Mercedes and Ferrari have both celebrated six victories at the circuit.

Safety first

For the past two years the Bahrain Grand Prix has finished behind the safety car.