Lusail International Circuit
The Qatar Grand Prix is held at the Losail International Circuit, a stunning track located near Doha. Opened in 2004, this 5.41 km (3.34 miles) circuit features 16 corners and a mix of high-speed straights and technical turns. With 57 laps covering a total of 308.661 km (190.5 miles), it’s a true test of skill for drivers.
Famous for its night-time races under brilliant floodlights. It was first designed for motorcycle racing but became a Formula 1 favorite in 2021.
Known for its smooth surface and thrilling overtaking opportunities, Losail offers a racing spectacle like no other!
Sprint Weekend
Free Practice -> Sprint Qualifying -> Sprint Race -> Qualifying -> Qatar Grand Prix
Qatar is not a regular weekend; it’s a Sprint Weekend, which brings a different format than usual. This means there will only be one Free Practice session (FP1), which will take place on Friday. Teams and drivers will have just one hour to assess how their car performs on the track and fine-tune their setups. After FP1, the Sprint Qualifying session will take place. This session is shorter than a regular qualifying and has different tire rules. For example, in Q1, drivers are required to use specific tire compounds, which adds a layer of strategy. (For further clarification, Sprint Qualifying is typically a single, 30-minute session that determines the grid for the Sprint Race.
On Saturday, the Sprint Race will take place. The number of laps in a Sprint Race is much fewer than the original Grand Prix. This is typically around 100 km (approximately 30 minutes of racing), so there is usually no need for a pit stop. The Qatar Sprint Race consists of 19 laps. After the Sprint Race, the drivers will take part in another Qualifying session, this time for the Grand Prix that will take place on Sunday. This qualifying session follows the usual format, with drivers competing for the grid positions for the main event of the weekend.
This compressed format adds excitement and strategy, giving teams and drivers multiple chances to perform while reducing the usual downtime between sessions.
Here are the points that can be scored during a Sprint Race:
- 1st: 8 points
- 2nd: 7 points
- 3rd: 6 points
- 4th: 5 points
- 5th: 4 points
- 6th: 3 points
- 7th: 2 points
- 8th: 1 point
Qatar Grand Prix 2024
In Las Vegas, Max Verstappen was crowned World Champion for 2024, so you might be wondering what’s left to enjoy in the upcoming races. Well, there’s still another championship in play! Each year, while drivers compete for the title, the teams are also fighting to be crowned champions. This is known as the Constructors' Championship, where the points from both drivers in a team are added together.
As of now, McLaren leads the 2024 Constructors' Championship with 608 points, while Ferrari is in second place with 584 points. The gap between the two teams is 24 points. With two races and a sprint race left, there are still significant points available, especially during the sprint weekend in Qatar, where teams can score additional points. McLaren will need to maximize their points from both drivers in the final rounds to maintain their lead, while Ferrari will aim to outperform them and close the gap.
While McLaren and Ferrari continue to battle for the top spot in the Constructors' Championship, other teams further down the grid are also engaged in a fierce struggle for position. VCARBcurrently holds 46 points, Alpine has 49 points, and Haas sits at 50 points.
What time does the Qatar Grand Prix start in my time zone?
Free Practice
- Qatar (AST): 16:30
- Las Vegas (PST): 7:30 AM
- London (GMT): 1:30 PM
- Paris/Berlin (CET): 2:30 PM
- Moscow (MSK): 4:30 PM
- Dubai (GST): 5:30 PM
- Singapore (SGT): 8:30 PM
- Tokyo (JST): 9:30 PM
- Melbourne (AEDT): 11:30 PM
- New York (EST): 10:30 AM
Sprint Qualifying
- Qatar (AST): 20:30
- Las Vegas (PST): 11:30 AM
- London (GMT): 5:30 PM
- Paris/Berlin (CET): 6:30 PM
- Moscow (MSK): 8:30 PM
- Dubai (GST): 9:30 PM
- Singapore (SGT): 12:30 AM
- Tokyo (JST): 1:30 AM
- Melbourne (AEDT): 3:30 AM
- New York (EST): 2:30 PM
Sprint Race
- Qatar (AST): 17:00
- Las Vegas (PST): 8:00 AM
- London (GMT): 2:00 PM
- Paris/Berlin (CET): 3:00 PM
- Moscow (MSK): 5:00 PM
- Dubai (GST): 6:00 PM
- Singapore (SGT): 9:00 PM
- Tokyo (JST): 10:00 PM
- Melbourne (AEDT): 12:00 AM
- New York (EST): 11:00 AM
Qualifying
- Qatar (AST): 9:00 PM
Las Vegas (PST): 10:00 AM
London (GMT): 6:00 PM
Paris/Berlin (CET): 7:00 PM
Moscow (MSK): 9:00 PM
Dubai (GST): 10:00 PM
Singapore (SGT): 1:00 AM
Tokyo (JST): 2:00 AM
Melbourne (AEDT): 4:00 AM
New York (EST): 1:00 PM
Qatar Grand Prix
- Las Vegas (PST): 8:00 AM zondag
- London (GMT): 4:00 PM zondag
- Paris/Berlin (CET): 5:00 PM zondag
- Moscow (MSK): 7:00 PM zondag
- Dubai (GST): 8:00 PM Sunday
- Singapore (SGT): 11:00 PM Sunday
- Tokyo (JST): 12:00 AM Monday
- Melbourne (AEDT): 2:00 AM Monday
- New York (EST): 1:00 PM Sunday
Qatar Grand Prix 2023
Sprint Race
Max Verstappen was confirmed as the 2023 Formula 1 World Champion after a second-place finish in the Sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix. The result came after a thrilling 19-lap race in which Oscar Piastri claimed his first-ever F1 victory, fighting back from losing the lead to George Russell. Verstappen only needed to finish sixth to secure his third consecutive world title, and he crossed the line in second ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. This win mathematically ensured Verstappen's championship, as it was out of reach for his teammate Sergio Perez, who retired early in the race.
Grand Prix
Max Verstappen secured a dominant victory in the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, continuing his celebrations after clinching the World Championship. The race was marred by an early collision between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, which left Hamilton out of the race and forced Russell to pit for a new front wing.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished second and third, respectively, after a strong performance that saw both drivers rise from their grid positions due to track limit violations in qualifying. George Russell managed a strong recovery to take fourth, while Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso finished fifth and sixth. Sergio Perez, starting from the pit lane due to a Sprint race incident, fought his way into the points, despite receiving three penalties for track limit violations.
Add comment
Comments