FIA make significant last minute changes to Bahrain Grand Prix track just hours before qualifying

The FIA have made a huge change to the Bahrain International Circuit just hours before it hosts qualifying for the fourth race of the 2025 F1 season.

After a lacklustre start to the 2025 Formula One season, fans are eagerly anticipating the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is expected to be the most exciting race of the year.

Ahead of the season the entire grid spent three days at the Bahrain International Circuit as part of pre-season testing, and we saw perhaps the best driving of 2025 so far.

But before the race gets underway, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, F1's governing body, have decided to make a massive change to the Bahrain track.

Qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix will take place on track at 17:00 BST on Saturday, with the race itself starting at 18:00 on Sunday evening.

And when the cars get on track, fans watching will notice that there's been one change to a part of the track that the FIA have implemented ahead of qualifying.

As pointed out by formula aerodynamics on Instagram, the FIA have decided to widen the white line at the exit on turn four, therefore moving the blue line to be behind this new white line.

Essentially, this change will make it easier for drivers to avoid breaching the track limits, something which can led to severe punishments in both qualifying and in the race.

If a driver breaches track limits during a qualifying lap, their lap time will be deleted, potentially having a disastrous consequence for them ahead of the race the following day.

McLaren driver Lando Norris is the favourite to win the Bahrain Grand Prix. (Image: Getty)

In the race itself, drivers will receive warnings for the first three breaches of the track limits but will be given a five-second penalty for the fourth and a ten-second penalty for the fifth.

Heading into qualifying and the main race, Lando Norris is the favourite to come out on top, after the early races of the season have made it clear that McLaren currently have the best car on the grid.

However, Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri and reigning champion Max Verstappen likely won't be far behind him, with Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton also hoping they can compete after the Italian team brought a series of upgrades to Bahrain.