Places Behind The Races: Bahrain Edition

Get to know everything fun and trending in Bahrain ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix

Apr 08, 2025

Throughout the 2025 season, Formula 1 will visit 24 locations across 21 countries. The global expanse of the sport is one of its best features, but we don’t often talk about the places behind the races. With that in mind, I thought I would delve into everything fun and trending in the many locations that Formula 1 visits. From events and national holidays to movies and food trends, I’ve got you covered. So, let’s get to it!

Popular Movies (Netflix Top 10 This Week):

1. Deva - Working on a complicated case, a fierce young police officer goes rogue to dismantle a lethal web of corruption and deceit — one epic battle at a time.

2. The life list - When her mother sends her on a quest to complete a teenage bucket list, a young woman uncovers family secrets, finds romance — and rediscovers herself.

3. Officer on Duty - During a routine case for counterfeit jewelry, a demoted police officer unexpectedly steers his investigation toward a dangerous criminal syndicate.

4. Dragon - After a top student faces rejection and heartbreak, he cons his way into a finance career. But keeping up the facade proves tricky as the lies build.

5. Revelations - A pastor who believes in divine revelation and a detective haunted by visions pursue a missing person case — exposing their own demons in the process.

6. Bullet Train - Five assassins board a Japanese bullet train bound for Kyoto and come to discover that their seemingly separate missions are mysteriously linked.

7. The Electric State - An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.

8. Con mum - A chef's life is upended when a jet-setting, champagne-sipping, hotel-hopping woman claims to be his mother. This documentary reveals the untold story.

9. Father Stu - After a failed boxing career and a near-fatal motorcycle crash, a man finds his calling in the Catholic priesthood even as he faces a shocking diagnosis.

10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie - Magically teleported from Brooklyn to the Mushroom Kingdom, two plucky plumbers team up with a princess to battle a tyrannical fire-breathing turtle.

Thanks for reading Paddock Culture. This post is public, so feel free to share it.

Popular Television (Netflix Top 10 This Week):

1. Adolescence - When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking: what really happened?

2. The Residence - When a White House state dinner becomes a crime scene, detective Cordelia Cupp must investigate dozens of staff members and guests to catch a killer.

3. Weak Hero: Class 1 - With the aid of unexpected friends, a gifted but introverted student confronts bullies and violent foes — unaware of how dangerous his world will become.

4. Khakee: The Bengal Chapter - When upright cop Arjun Maitra takes on Kolkata’s feared don Bagha and his henchmen, he must battle a broken system and navigate bloody gang wars.

5. Million Dollar Secret - In this cutthroat competition series, an undercover millionaire must hide in plain sight and evade elimination to keep the money and win the game.

6. When Life Gives You Tangerines - In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs — proving love endures across time.

7. Wolf King - A young commoner comes of age and learns he's the last of a long line of Werewolves — and heir to the throne — in this epic fantasy adventure series.

8. Raw: 2025 - Cody Rhodes and John Cena again cross paths in Glasgow, Scotland. Lyra Valkyria defends the Women's Intercontinental Title against Raquel Rodriguez.

9. Caught - After her husband's death, a famed reporter's obsession with a new case threatens to destroy her reputation in her quest for truth and redemption.

10. WWE SmackDown: 2025 - Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth "Freakin" Rollins cross paths in London, England for their WrestleMania Triple Threat Match contract signing.

Popular Music (Radio Bahrain Top 10 Songs This Week)

1. The Giver – Chappell Roan

2. Ordinary – Alex Warren

3. Anxiety – Doechii

4. Sports Car – Tate McRae

5. Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan

6. Abracadabra – Lady Gaga

7. BMF – SZA

8. Busy Woman – Sabrina Carpenter

9. Rather Lie – The Weekend ft Playboi Carti

10. Pain Away – Calvin Harris

Popular Food & Drink

1. Machboos - the national dish of Bahrain. It is a spiced rice dish typically made with basmati rice, meat (chicken, lamb, or fish), and a blend of aromatic spices such as cloves, cinnamon, and black lime. It is often garnished with fried onions and served with a side of tomato sauce called "dakous."

2. Harees - Harees is a savory porridge made from wheat and meat (usually chicken or lamb). The ingredients are slow-cooked until they form a smooth, thick consistency. It is a popular dish during Ramadan and other festive occasions

3. Jireesh - a traditional Bahraini dish made from crushed wheat cooked with chicken or lamb, seasoned with spices, and topped with ghee. It has a porridge-like texture and is often enjoyed with a side of buttermilk.

4. Samboosa - Similar to samosas found in other parts of the world, Bahraini Samboosa is a popular appetizer or snack. It is a deep-fried pastry filled with a mixture of meat, onions, and spices.

5. Ghreybah - a traditional Bahraini shortbread cookie with nuts on top.

Events & Holidays

~ Annual Fine Arts Exhibition

The Annual Fine Arts Exhibition is back for its 51st edition, featuring exciting art through exhibitions, talks, workshops, and other activities. This year’s event celebrates its history, honours the work of established local artists, and supports the growth of new talent, continuing its role as a key part of Bahrain’s art scene.

~ Memories Carved in Steel

In collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Bahrain National Museum presents Juan Garaizábal’s monumental installations. Featuring twelve large-scale outdoor sculptures, ten works on paper, and five smaller indoor sculptures, the exhibition delves into memory and time. Its centerpiece, The Door of Dilmun, symbolizes purity and the fleeting nature of greatness, drawing inspiration from the ancient city of Dilmun. Garaizábal’s work blends art and history, offering a reflective journey through Bahrain’s past and present.

This is the second ‘Places Behind the Races’ post that I have done now, and I’m just loving being able to find out new things about these race locations. Clearly the Chappel Roan experience is a global one, and Tate McRae’s ‘Sports Car’ charting at no.4 is particularly apt for this week (iykyk). Also, some of those foods sound amazing, especially Machboos. It’s also incredible to see how Adolescence is still such a current topic around the globe – give Jack Thorne, Steven Graham and Owen Cooper all the awards now!!!

Overall, I’m just praying that the Grand Prix in Bahrain gives us something this weekend. I’m not asking for much, but maybe an ounce more than Suzuka gave us last weekend. It almost feels sacrilegious to say something negative about Suzuka due to the races it usually produces, but unfortunately, that race was bland for everyone, drivers included!

Podium Prediction:

1. Lando Norris

2. Max Verstappen

3. Oscar Piastri

Aside from car performance, I think McLaren will be aiming to impress in their owner’s home and let’s face it, Max Verstappen is inevitable. He got his fifth career Grand Chelem here last year, so who knows what he might be able to do this year! Either way, I can’t wait to see how it all pans out this weekend, with only 1 point separating Lando and Max at the top of the driver’s championship.

That being said, I’m most likely going to go and change my podium prediction about 20 times now, but maybe I’ll try to cook up some Machboos to distract myself.

Thanks for reading, and see you next time :)