A visibly pleased King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa attended the final race. He waved enthusiastically at the massive crowd and said: "We are grateful to the International Automobile Federation (FIA), teams, sponsors and the Bahrain International Circuit for ensuring that this great event has gone on peacefully and in the celebratory spirit of community that Formula One represents. I would like to thank the Formula One teams for showing your faith in our country by coming here. We also look forward to welcoming you again next year." 
Among the special invitees at the final were Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman, Jordan's Prince Faisal bin Al-Hussain and former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The king's sentiments were shared by a large number of business executives who turned out to watch the final race.
"This is like a big thumbs-up for Bahrain," said Terry Walsh, a Dubai-based executive who watched the race on the giant screen inside the Paddock Club. "This will no doubt have a ripple effect on the economy." 
Walsh said he was saddened by the event's cancelation last year. "Everyone lost because Formula One is not just about motor sports; when the general sentiment is good, all businesses prosper. The most important outcome of this event is not the visitor number, but the message that goes out from here — that Bahrain is coming out of the woods, and that it is good for business."
He admitted that before coming into Bahrain he was full of apprehension. "My wife and children had advised me against coming to Bahrain. They thought it was unsafe. Of course, they based their assessments on all that they have been watching on television. That was just crap," he said, his irritation obvious. "If I had stayed back and not come here, I would have believed what the television stations were telling us. In this era of social media, it seems truth has become a massive casualty." 
FIA President Jean Todt was livid at the bad press Bahrain was getting. "I am sorry about what has been reported ... All that has been reported does not correspond to the reality of what is happening in this country," he told reporters at the Sakhir circuit.
"All the people among the teams have been very happy. I was even told it would have been a mistake not to come," he said. "It is a sporting event, and if the sporting event is helping to heal the situation it is very good for the sport." 
Todt said only a small section of Bahraini society was against the race, and the majority should not suffer as a result of the opposition. "Why penalize 80 or 90 percent of the population because 10 percent are against it? My answer is no," he said.
The spectators seemed very excited. They kept snapping pictures of their favorite drivers. Entertainment programming continued long after the checkered flag.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the race in a close battle with Kimi Raikkonen of Team Lotus. Vettel built an early lead from the pole but was caught by the Finn halfway through the race despite his 11th-place start. Vettel pulled away after the final pit stops frustrating Raikkonen's attempts to catch him. Romain Grosjean of Team Lotus finished third, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton finishing eighth and Jenson Button retiring. The fans loved the fast-paced action punctuated by the high-pitched roar of the race cars battling for position.
Among the many interesting artists at the event was award-winning British cartoonist Daniel Byrne. "I have drawn a number of caricatures of the visitors, all for free," he told the Gulf Daily News. "I am thoroughly enjoying this," he said. "Several people have come to me asking what I charge, and when I tell them it is free, they do not initially seem convinced." He said he had been made to feel extremely welcome in Bahrain. "The people are very friendly."
It is the warmth and friendliness of the Bahraini hosts that carried the day during the Grand Prix. "One nation in celebration," is an appropriate line for the kingdom's comeback after a year of troubles.