Latest news with #BahrainInternationalCircuit
Gulf Weekly
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Tarmac theatrics
A visual masterpiece for new and seasoned fans: Review of F1 The Movie, brought to you by Bahrain International Circuit. Director: Joseph Kosinski Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Javier Bardem Genre: Sport/Drama Rating: 4.5 popcorns out of 5 Try to imagine combining the visual spectacle of Top Gun: Maverick, a Gladiator-level musical score, the effortless charm of Brad Pitt, the racing passion of Lewis Hamilton, with the backing of Warner Brothers and Apple and a production with unparalleled access to every corner of F1. The end result is a visual masterpiece that manages to find a way of appealing to both an F1 newbie and the most seasoned of motorsport fans. The film focuses on the struggling Apex Grand Prix team and its ambition to get back to the top of the sport. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, an ex-driver whose career was ended by a racing incident back in 1993. He is brought out of retirement by Apex GP team boss (Javier Bardem) to revive fortunes at the team and perhaps teach a lesson or two to young teammate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). For the regular F1 fan, the combination of the film's authenticity, together with the visual spectacle will not disappoint. Indeed, staying true to the sport was a key factor for the involvement of Lewis Hamilton as a producer and the endorsement of F1 and the FIA for the film. During filming, Brand Pitt and Damson Idris learned to drive real cars, at real F1 venues, driving at speeds of up to 300km per hour. The cars themselves are F2 cars, modified by Mercedes to blend in seamlessly with the real F1 grid. The scenes you see at race weekend from Silverstone through to Abu Dhabi have all been shot during the actual race weekends, to the extent that during the filming periods, F1 effectively had 11 teams running. Even the smaller touches nod to the real life feeling of F1, with no better example than the cameo of Guenther Steiner and his inevitable fruity language. Add to that the familiar voices of David Croft and Martin Brundle on commentary to support narrative direction and explanations of the action for newer fans, with appearances from the entire 2023 grid (drivers and cars) and numerous other familiar faces from the world of F1, there is plenty for fans to get their teeth into. And that's before taking in the visual treat of the racing shots. Given the amount of filming that was undertaken outside of races, the movie was able to capture new and unique camera shots which go well beyond what fans are used to on broadcast. F1 has always been an impressive visual feast on any normal race weekend, but the film takes the viewing pleasure and immersive experience to a whole new level. Add to that the musical genius of a score by Hans Zimmer and it's hard to not become totally spellbound by the action. There is also plenty in there for new or even non-F1 fans. Whilst the authenticity necessitates the use of a fair amount of F1 jargon, the commentary, radio chatter and scripting do an excellent job to guide the viewer through the technical details. Brad Pitt is unsurprisingly cool, perhaps best described as a combination of an American version of James Hunt, with the driving style that would make Max Verstappen look timid in comparison. Idris as his teammate provides a cheeky young English vibe that sits well alongside Pitt's more roguish humour, whilst Javier Bardem as team boss Ruben adds significant weight to carry the story along, supported by the Irish charm and cutting insight of Kerry Condon as the team's technical director. Whilst the film does walk the careful line of trying to appeal the widest audience possible (and rightly so), there will be the inevitable clamour from the hardcore F1 crowd that the film has oversimplified the sport, or that certain small details don't match real life (such as the team headquarters of Apex being filmed at McLaren). Others may say that the storyline isn't the most sophisticated of journeys. To claim any of that would miss the entire point of the film. If you want proper, true-to-life F1, watch the Senna documentary (or just watch an F1 race), and if you want a weaving complex narrative, take on one of Brad Pitt's earlier efforts in Seven. This is unashamedly Hollywood; a true summer entertainment blockbuster and a visual masterpiece celebrating the pinnacle of motorsport. The efforts to remain true to life to F1 do more than enough to give this film credibility. Most of all, the movie will undoubtedly bring in a new audience to F1, in the same way that Formula 1: Drive to Survive continues to achieve. Not only will it help the sport in its expansion efforts, given that anyone watching this around the world, young or old, cannot fail to be mesmerised by the spectacle of the sport. Given what Warner Brothers and Apple have put into the film for production, and the supporting efforts to promote this film, there is no doubt that this is another landmark moment for F1. F1 The Movie releases in Bahrain today, June 26. It's well worth a trip to the big screen.
Gulf Weekly
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Weekly
Lego lady!
Motorsport maverick Faten Amin, the first Bahraini woman in a host of top organising roles in the sport, has taken her journey off-road with her collection of unique Lego F1 sets. The 39-year-old Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) digital content executive is blending her love for the sport with her relatively recent hobby of Lego set-building. 'I have 66 sets so far, but not all of them are built – about 14 to 15 sets are not built yet,' she told GulfWeekly during the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix held at the BIC in mid-April. 'I like to have a collection, rather than having one or two sets, and Lego kept bringing out more sets, so my hobby just keep on growing.' But Faten is more than just a collector. She's created a unique niche for herself by documenting her Lego builds through ASMR-style videos on TikTok, capturing the satisfying clicks of each piece coming together. 'When I build the sets, I do a video where it's music-free to keep the focus on the ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) click, making sure that it is very clear,' she added. Last year, Faten made history as the first Bahraini woman to serve as Clerk Of the Course (COC) for the FIA Formula 3 Championship during the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix. This year, in addition to her duties at the BIC, she had a dual role for the support races happening during the race weekend – deputy COC for the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East and chief communications for F2. However, she was able to make time to stock up on new Lego sets, one of which she even got signed by the Ferrari duo of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. 'Ever since I was young, I was always fascinated by Lego but I never had the time or budget for it,' she reminisced. 'However, that changed in 2019, when my husband bought me a Lego Movie Maker set because I do stop motion videos. The set could actually help me do stop motion with Lego, and it teaches you everything. 'He saw the set and knew it was perfect for me. Ever since then, I just kept on buying the sets that I wanted, like the Friends set, the McLaren, and it just grew.' The first set that she worked on was a small speed champion car, which she completed in about 90 minutes. Up next was the 2022 McLaren F1 car, which took her about 10 hours. What started as a casual interest quickly transformed into a serious collection, with Faten now boasting an impressive collection spanning diverse themes, from F1 racing sets to botanical collections featuring delicate roses and tulips. 'When I'm building these sets, I can meditate with no thoughts at all,' she explained. 'It just clears the mind. That's what I like. I like to sit and clear my mind out of everything from life. That's why I enjoy building it. It's like my yoga session with building Legos.' Her most challenging build to date was the Ferrari Daytona set, a 24-hour project she completed just a few days before giving birth – something that didn't even hold her F1 organising ambitions, as she served as the COC last year while pregnant. A veteran marshal since 2005, Faten has been a pivotal figure in Bahrain's racing community. Last year, she made history by becoming the first female Clerk of the Course for Formula Three – a remarkable achievement she accomplished while eight months pregnant. Her collection reflects her motorsports passion, with numerous F1 and racing-themed Lego sets taking pride of place in her home. She even treasures a small piece of carbon fiber from an F2 wing – a memento from her early marshalling days. 'I've always been passionate about motorsports,' Amin explains. 'From watching NASCAR as a child to marshalling at local races, it's been a lifelong love.'
Daily Tribune
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
BIC launches tickets to 2026 F1 weekend in Bahrain with incredible 20% discount
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East', announced today the launch of a limited sale window for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026, with the chance to take advantage of an incredible 20% discount. It is never too early to book seats for the Kingdom of Bahrain's biggest and most highly anticipated sporting and entertainment event of the year. The 20% price reduction is available for all BIC's grandstands, including the Main, Turn 1, Beyon, University, and Victory grandstands. And after the total sell-out of all these tickets – in record time – for this year's grand prix spectacle, fans are advised to act now and take advantage of this amazing deal and secure the best seats. The 20 per cent deal is the first opportunity to guarantee seats at prices which BIC assures will not be beaten. The offer is available for a limited period only and can be purchased for all BIC's grandstands. They are now available online at or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000. The 20 per cent discount will not be on offer at any other time leading up to next year's race weekend.
Gulf Insider
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
BIC Launches Tickets To 2026 F1 Weekend In Bahrain With Incredible 20% Discount
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East', announced today the launch of a limited sale window for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026, with the chance to take advantage of an incredible 20% discount. It is never too early to book seats for the Kingdom of Bahrain's biggest and most highly anticipated sporting and entertainment event of the year. The 20% price reduction is available for all BIC's grandstands, including the Main, Turn 1, Beyon, University, and Victory grandstands. And after the total sell-out of all these tickets – in record time – for this year's grand prix spectacle, fans are advised to act now and take advantage of this amazing deal and secure the best seats. The 20 per cent deal is the first opportunity to guarantee seats at prices which BIC assures will not be beaten. The offer is available for a limited period only and can be purchased for all BIC's grandstands. They are now available online at or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000. The 20 per cent discount will not be on offer at any other time leading up to next year's race weekend. For more information, visit call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000, or follow BIC's social media channels. Source Bahrain News Agency
Daily Tribune
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
BIC and RAK Art Foundation Collaborate to Infuse Art into F1 Grand Prix Venue
The Rashid Al Khalifa Art Foundation has partnered with the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) to transform the walls of the media center tunnel with vibrant graffiti art, unveiled as part of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 festivities. This artistic initiative is part of the Foundation's broader mission to support local artists by providing public-facing spaces that extend the presence of art beyond traditional galleries. By doing so, the Foundation aims to foster deeper engagement between the public and the arts in unexpected, high-traffic environments. The commissioned mural spans over 60 meters and was brought to life by two of Bahrain's leading graffiti artists — Mahmood Al Sharqawi (known as HUVIL) and Mustafa Al Halwachi. Their work blends Bahraini heritage with elements of contemporary pop culture, creating a dynamic and culturally resonant visual experience for F1 attendees and media personnel.
