Motorsport maniacs have three chances to see the F1 stars in their stunning cars on United States soil this year, the Miami Grand Prix (May), the United States Grand Prix (October), and the Las Vegas Grand Prix (November). However, we are getting ahead of ourselves, as first things first, or next up, we head to Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, April 13. Thankfully for the first time this F1 season, you won’t have to set those alarm clocks too early, to catch the race live. The lights go green at 11 am ET. It’s the fourth grand prix of an action-packed 24-race season that goes all the way through until December and the curtain-closer in Abu Dhabi.
History was made when Bahrain staged its first grand prix in 2004, as an F1 race had never been held in the Middle East before that. Bahrain had fought off stiff competition from neighboring countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, and the UAE to host a grand prix and that decision was given a seal of approval as Bahrain received the ‘Best Organised Grand Prix’ award from the FIA in the same year. It had made an instant positive impact on spectators, drivers, and F1 head honchos alike.
Bahrain always filled one of the early slots in the F1 calendar, but it was given a further boost in 2006 when it swapped places with the traditional season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, which had to be pushed down the order to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games. Despite being fourth in the rotation this time, it has staged the curtain-raising weekend during several other F1 campaigns, including 2010, and for four years between 2021 and 2024.
We are only three races in and the F1 Drivers’ Championship is already hotting up nicely. Just one point separates the top 2, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, following the Dutchman’s first victory of 2025 in Suzuka on Sunday. It promises to be an open and exciting season with each race producing a different winner so far.
Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton has recorded the most wins in Bahrain, having taken the chequered flag on five occasions in the past (2014, 2015, 2019, 2020 & 2021) and he’ll be confident of another strong performance, having recorded his best result of 2025, when finishing 7th in Japan at the weekend. However, the 4-time (and reigning) F1 champion, Max Verstappen, is sure to be grabbing the headlines following his recent race success. Having won in Sakhir in both 2023 & 2024, the Red Bull star is aiming to become the first driver to claim three successive wins from pole position. He was at his dominant best last year when cruising to victory by 22.4 seconds, which was the biggest winning margin ever in Bahrain.
It’s shaping up to be a spectacular weekend of action at the Bahrain International Circuit, but how can you ensure that you see every minute of action on the track? Below, GOAL guides you through where to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025, including practice, qualification, and the race itself.
Where is the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 held?
Getty ImagesThe Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, which emerged from the sand after 16 months of work, was opened in 2004 and the first F1 grand prix was staged in April of that year. Apart from the 2011 edition, which was canceled due to protests, the Bahrain Grand Prix has been staged at the circuit every year since. In 2014, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the first staging of the event, the race was held at night under floodlights. In so doing it became the second F1 night race after the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008. All subsequent Bahrain GPs have also been night races.
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025
Getty ImagesThe Bahrain Grand Prix will air live on Sunday, April 13 at 11 am ET on ESPN. ESPN is the home of F1 once again this season, with all 24 races airing on either ESPN or ESPN2. ESPN's F1 coverage also includes a dedicated site that reports on the championship all year, with reporters on-site at every race. ESPN's F1 reporters also contribute to the video podcast program ‘Unlapped’, which appears year-round on the ESPN YouTube channel. Spanish-language broadcasts appear primarily on ESPN Deportes, while ESPNews and ESPNU carry extra F1 programming, including some qualifying and practice sessions.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will also be streamed live on ESPN+. An ESPN+ subscription grants you access to exclusive ESPN+ content including live events, fantasy sports tools, and premium ESPN+ articles. You can stream ESPN+ through an app on your smart TV, phone, tablet, or computer, and ESPN.com. The stand-alone streaming service is a must-have accessory for F1 fanatics. An ESPN+ subscription costs $11.99 a month (or $119.99 a year). You can also stream certain simulcasts and F2 races via ESPN+.
Fubo also offers a top-quality streaming service with access to the Japanese Grand Prix and a whole world of sports. Fubo subscription plans start from $84.99 per month as part of a rolling contract. Fubo offers a free 7-day trial to new subscribers. With over 200 channels, no contract, no hidden fees, and the option to cancel anytime, Fubo is a no-brainer for F1 and general sports fans.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 Weekend Schedule
The Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 runs the whole weekend, from Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13, with practice, qualifying, and the race spread over three days. Below, you can find the timings for each practice session, qualifying, and the Grand Prix, as well as which channel to watch them on:
Date | Phase | Time (ET) | Channel | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, April 11 | Practice 1 | 07:30 am | ESPNU | |
Practice 2 | 11 am | ESPNU | ||
Saturday, April 12 | Practice 3 | 08:30 am | ESPN2 | |
Qualifying | 12 pm | ESPNEWS | ||
Sunday, April 13 | Grand Prix | 11 am | ESPN2 |
Can I watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 on F1 TV?
Getty ImagesAn F1 TV Pro subscription lets you stream every F1 race live, plus all the practices, qualifying races, and pre-race shows. It also gives you access to over 650 archived races for nostalgic viewing. While F1 TV offers two plans (F1 TV Access and F1 TV Pro), you’ll want F1 TV Pro to get all the live content. The plan costs $10.99 per month or $84.99 per year. Additional perks include onboard camera views, live tracking data, and team radio feeds and you can switch between channels for different race action and commentary in other languages. The F1 TV app is available on popular streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and Roku, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices.
Can I watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 on demand?
Getty Images If you have an ESPN or F1 TV subscription, you can watch a re-run of the Bahrain Grand Prix on demand after the race has finished through the channel's digital and online options. For mobile devices and personal tablets, the ESPN app will allow viewers to watch back the race in full, allowing fans to revisit the event in total or bite-sized highlights packages. Likewise, the F1 TV service allows subscribers to enjoy full replays of every race during the 2025 Formula One season.
How to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 from anywhere with a VPN
You may need a different way to watch the race if you cannot view the Bahrain Grand Prix locally. That's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on race day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network. You want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. With a VPN, you can virtually change your location on your phone, tablet, or laptop to get access to Grand Prix.
We highly recommend using NordVPN, but you can also check out our detailed VPN guide for other options.
