F1 confirms second Bahrain Grand Prix will use new ‘outer circuit’ in night race

Bahrain will stage its second race of the season on its 'outer circuit' at night (AFP/Getty)

Formula One have confirmed that Bahrain’s second Grand Prix this season will use the outer circuit in a night race.

The expectation is that the track, which F1’s managing director Ross Brawn labelled an “almost oval”, will take little more than 50 seconds to lap in qualifying in what will be a completely new experience for the 20 drivers.

It was also announced that qualifying will be held at a later time to take place at night in the Arab state, mirroring F1’s previous night event in Singapore where sessions are held under the lights.

"The Grand Prix will be a full night race with both qualifying and the race taking place later in the evening compared to the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix,” F1 said in a statement.

The 3.543km 11-corner circuit uses part of the regular Sakhir track that has formed the Bahrain Grand Prix in recent years, which will be used for the first race the week before on 30 November, with Turns One, Two, Three and Four all running as normal.

The track then veers left where drivers would normally head off into the in-field section, and rejoins the normal track two corners from the finish straight in what will be the second-shortest circuit on the 2020 calendar after Monaco.

The rapid lap time and short distance means that a calendar-high 87 laps will be needed, with a later start time to differentiate it from the dusk-to-dark setting for the first weekend in Bahrain.

"We assessed a number of options for the alternative circuit layout," Brawn said in a statement.

"(We) concluded the outer circuit will provide the best alternative and will provide a new challenge for all the teams and entertain all our fans with high speeds and fast lap times.”