F1 has only raced in Qatar three times before, visiting only once in 2021 before the event officially joined the calendar two years ago. This year, the Lusail International Circuit will test the limits of F1 cars with a maximum stint length of 25 laps, a high-speed test that increases tire wear. Our guide for this one lap is 2024 runner-up Charles Leclerc.
“It’s a really, really big physical challenge, probably the biggest one of the season. The heat isn’t as hot as it was two years ago, because now it’s actually quite refreshing in the evenings. But the fact that Pirelli has a 25-lap limit on stints means we’re pushing like crazy throughout the race, which makes it very tough physically.”
“It’s also a very difficult track to master overall because there are so many high-speed corners, so you have to give it your all in the qualifying laps. And a small mistake in a fast corner means you end that lap immediately and have to start again. Whereas at lower speeds, if you make a mistake, it’s a little bit easier to deal with. So it’s even more difficult to master.”
“The last sector is a key area of the track where you have to drive correctly. That’s where all the high-speed sections are. It’s also where you need to be the most careful because bottoming out the car in these parts is very difficult.”
“Obviously you need to set up the car for the fast corners, but there are still some slow or medium speed corners where you have to be strong. So it’s always a balance, but certainly on a track like this you end up setting up the car for high speeds more than low speeds because there are a lot more high speed sections. But that doesn’t make it any easier.”
“Tire-wise, it wasn’t the hardest track to manage. I’m sure there are tracks that are more aggressive with their tires, but I was more overheated. Especially in the first year, it was because of the heat. It was a different time of the year, so that was difficult. But going from qualifying lap to qualifying lap for the whole race is a lot harder than people think.”
“Normally there’s a pretty big difference between a race push and a qualifying push. You have to think about the tires and how they evolve. Here, it’s all about pushing hard for 57 laps and taking maximum risks from corner to corner.”
“No, it’s quite unique…Silverstone is also a track where you tend to push quite a bit because it has all the high-speed sections. But here, it’s much more physical.
“I especially like the night racing part. I love night racing in general. My favorite is night racing on street tracks. It’s not a street track, but it’s also a really cool track, and I love the high speeds. It’s a really nice track.”
overview:
Race distance: 57 laps/191.7 miles
2024 pole time: 1 minute 20.575 seconds (George Russell, Mercedes)
2024 winner: Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Qatar Grand Prix Weekend Schedule (all Eastern Time):
Friday, November 28th
8:25am – 9:30am – Free Practice 1, ESPNU
12:55pm – 1:30pm – Sprint Qualifying, ESPNEWS
Saturday, November 29th
8:55am – 10:00am – Sprint, ESPN2
12:55pm – 2:00pm – Grand Prix Qualifying, ESPNEWS
Sunday, November 30th
10:55am – 1:00pm – Qatar Grand Prix (57 laps or 120 minutes), ESPN2
