The Dark Mystery Of Bahrain's Ancient Curse

The Bahrain Grand Prix curse refers to a pattern that has emerged in Formula 1 racing since 2017, where the driver who wins the first race of the season—which, in recent years, has been the Bahrain Grand Prix—does not go on to win the championship. In fact, they usually finish in second place. This curse has become a prominent superstition in the world of Formula 1, with fans even praying for their favourite driver not to win the first race of the season.

The Bahrain Grand Prix winner's curse refers to the belief that whoever wins the first race of the Formula 1 season will not win the championship

The Bahrain Grand Prix Winners' Curse refers to the belief that whoever wins the first race of the Formula 1 season will not win the championship. This superstition has been circulating since 2017, when Sebastian Vettel won the season opener and Lewis Hamilton went on to claim the championship. Since then, the winner of the first race has consistently failed to secure the championship title, fostering the notion of a "curse".

In 2018, a similar scenario unfolded, with Hamilton again claiming the championship after finishing behind Vettel in the opening race. From 2019 to 2020, the pattern persisted, with Valtteri Bottas winning the first race and Hamilton ultimately clinching the championship. The 2021 season saw Hamilton win the inaugural race in Bahrain but fall short of securing his eighth championship due to a blunder by the race director in the final race. Instead, Max Verstappen claimed the championship, marking his first title.

The trend continued in 2022, with Charles Leclerc winning the opening race in Bahrain but ultimately finishing second in the championship. This consistent pattern has led to the belief that winning the first race in Bahrain carries a curse that prevents the winner from becoming the championship winner. The phenomenon has captured the imagination of fans, with many embracing the idea of the "curse" and even hoping for their favourite drivers to break it.

While it may be a coincidence or a result of various factors influencing the outcome of the races, the Bahrain Grand Prix Winners' Curse has become a notable topic of discussion and intrigue in the world of Formula 1. With the 2023 season underway, all eyes are on whether the pattern will persist or if a new champion will emerge, breaking the supposed curse.

Since 2017, no driver who has won the inaugural race has gone on to win the championship

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been the venue for the Formula 1 season opener since 2021. Since 2017, no driver who has won the inaugural race has gone on to win the championship. This phenomenon has been dubbed the "Bahrain Curse" or the "Sakhir Curse".

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix but ultimately lost the championship to Max Verstappen. The following year, Charles Leclerc won the opening race in Bahrain but again failed to secure the championship, with Verstappen taking the title. The trend continued in 2023, with Verstappen winning the Bahrain Grand Prix but it is yet to be seen if he will win the championship.

Prior to 2021, the Australian Grand Prix was the first race of the season. However, this did not stop the curse, as the winner of the opening race still failed to win the championship. In 2017, Sebastian Vettel won the season opener in Australia, but Hamilton took the championship. A similar scenario played out in 2018, with Hamilton again claiming the championship despite not winning the first race.

The Bahrain Curse has become a well-known superstition in Formula 1, with fans even hoping their favourite driver does not win the first race of the season. While it may seem like a mere coincidence, the curse has persisted for several years, leaving many to wonder if it will ever be broken.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been the season opener in recent years, so the curse is associated with this race

The Bahrain Grand Prix curse refers to the belief that whoever wins the Bahrain Grand Prix will not go on to win the Championship in that year. The idea of the curse has been fuelled by the fact that, since 2017, no driver who has won the inaugural race of the season has gone on to win the championship. In fact, in most of those years, the winner of the first race has gone on to finish second in the championship.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been the first race of the Formula 1 season in recent years, so the curse is associated with this race. Before 2021, the Australian Grand Prix was the season opener, but the Bahrain Grand Prix took its place after the 2020 pandemic. Since then, the winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix has not won the championship in the same year.

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix but was not able to take the Championship title. In 2022, Charles Leclerc won the opening race in Bahrain but ultimately finished second in the championship, with Max Verstappen taking the trophy.

The curse has become a part of the pop culture within the F1 community, with fans taking to social media to discuss the phenomenon and post memes. Some fans even hope that their favourite driver will valiantly break the curse, taking both the win and the championship.

While some may dismiss the curse as a mere superstition, it has persisted in recent years, with the winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix failing to secure the championship. As the 2023 season progresses, all eyes are on whether Max Verstappen, who won the Bahrain Grand Prix, will be able to break the curse and take home the championship.

The winner of the race in Bahrain since 2021 has not gone on to win the championship

The Bahrain Grand Prix "curse" refers to the fact that, in recent years, the driver who wins the first race of the Formula 1 season has not gone on to win the championship. Since 2017, no driver who has won the inaugural race has taken the title, and the pattern has repeated in every season since 2021, when Bahrain became the venue for the season's first race.

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix but was unable to secure his eighth championship title. Similarly, in 2022, Charles Leclerc won the opening race in Bahrain but ultimately finished second in the championship to Max Verstappen. The pattern continued in 2023, with Max Verstappen winning the Bahrain Grand Prix but facing challenges from Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc's teams, leaving the championship outcome uncertain.

This "curse" has become a notable phenomenon in Formula 1, with fans and commentators alike discussing its implications and speculating about whether it will be broken in a given season. While some may consider it a mere coincidence or superstition, others believe it holds weight, with drivers even expressing a preference to finish second in the opening race to avoid the supposed curse.

The Bahrain Grand Prix "curse" highlights an interesting trend in Formula 1, where starting the season on a strong note does not always translate to championship success. This anomaly adds an element of intrigue and unpredictability to the sport, keeping fans engaged and curious about whether the pattern will persist or be broken.

The driver who sets the fastest lap time in Free Practice 3 in Bahrain is also said to be cursed

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been the venue for the first race of the Formula 1 season since 2021. Over the years, a pattern has emerged where the driver who wins the inaugural race does not go on to win the championship. This phenomenon has been dubbed the "Bahrain Curse" or the "Sakhir Curse".

In addition to the Bahrain Curse, there is also a curse associated with the Free Practice 3 session of the Bahrain Grand Prix. It is said that the driver who sets the fastest lap time in this practice session is also cursed and will not go on to win the race. This curse can be traced back to 2016 when Sebastian Vettel, despite setting the pace in the final practice session, failed to even start the race due to an engine failure on the formation lap. Since then, the driver who has been fastest in Free Practice 3 has not gone on to win the race, with the exception of Lewis Hamilton in 2015.

In the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, Max Verstappen fought with Charles Leclerc for victory. Verstappen was fastest in the final practice session and looked to have the pace to be at the front of the field. However, his race ended early due to a fuel pump issue, and he was unable to take the win. This was not the first time that Verstappen had been affected by the curse of Free Practice 3, as he had retired on the very first lap at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix and in the closing stages of the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix.

With the numerous instances of bad luck and retirement plaguing the drivers who set the fastest lap time in Free Practice 3, it is no wonder that the curse of Bahrain's Free Practice 3 session is considered to be very real by many.

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