The 2024 Qatar Grand Prix promises an action-packed weekend, with a detailed schedule of events and pivotal moments to watch. The Constructors’ Championship could be decided, as thrilling battles unfold across the grid.
The 2024 season nears its conclusion with the Qatar Grand Prix, the 23rd and penultimate race of the championship. The Drivers’ Title was secured by Max Verstappen in Las Vegas, leaving the Constructors’ Championship as the main focus this weekend.
McLaren F1 needs to leave Losail with a 45-point lead over its rivals to clinch the team crown. This requires gaining at least 21 points on Ferrari and not conceding more than eight to Red Bull.
The battle for sixth place will be intense between Haas, Alpine, and RB F1, separated by just four points. Every point will be crucial, including those from the Sprint, for these three teams.
Following last year’s tire issues, which forced pit stops every 18 laps, Pirelli and the Qatar circuit collaborated to address the pyramid curbs that damaged the tires.
The curbs have been softened in seven of the track’s 16 corners, including the first two and Turns 12 to 14, which are high-speed and end on these curbs. Pirelli tested samples of the modified curbs at its facility and approved the changes.
The Losail Circuit
The Losail track inevitably evokes comparisons to Bahrain in its layout, but it features significantly more high-speed corners compared to Sakhir, which is characterized by numerous hairpins.
The track is completely flat, and its asphalt—designed for the MotoGP championship—is perfectly smooth. Speeds are high during qualifying, and the curbs have been modified to address the tire issues encountered in the 2023 edition.
This 5.38-kilometer circuit has a single long straight, featuring the track’s only DRS zone. It leads into a tight first corner, followed by two fast bends.
The first sector ends with two sharp right-hand corners that lead to the tightest hairpin. Another tight right-hand turn then transitions into two quick bends before a sharper left-hand corner at Turn 10.
The third sector is almost entirely composed of high-speed corners, culminating in the DRS detection point. This is located between Turns 15 and 16, the latter being a tighter corner leading back to the start-finish straight. A gravel strip has been added beyond these curbs to deter drivers from exceeding track limits.
The Contenders
McLaren appears to be the potential favorite this weekend, at least on paper, thanks to a layout that should suit the characteristics of the MCL38. Unlike in Las Vegas, Ferrari is expected to face slightly more challenges.
The key question among the frontrunners is how Mercedes and Max Verstappen—without disregarding Sergio Pérez—will factor into the battle for the Constructors’ Championship.
Further back, Haas and RB F1 are likely to have an edge over Alpine, as the Losail layout may not play to Alpine’s strengths. Williams will contend with an older specification following several crashes and may find itself battling Aston Martin and Stake, assuming the improvements on the Sauber C44 continue to deliver.
Qatar Grand Prix Schedule
Moved from early October to late November, the Qatar Grand Prix should pose less of a heat challenge for the drivers. The schedule will feature afternoon and evening sessions, including the sixth and final Sprint of the season.
Qatar Grand Prix Schedule (UK Time)
| Date | Session | Time (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 29 November | Free Practice 1 | 11:30 – 12:30 |
| Sprint Qualifying | 15:30 – 16:14 | |
| Saturday, 30 November | Sprint | 12:00 – 13:00 |
| Qualifying | 17:00 – 18:00 | |
| Sunday, 1 December | Race | 17:00 – 19:00 |
Qatar Grand Prix Winners
| Year | Circuit | Winner | Team | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Losail | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes |
| 2023 | Losail | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Honda |
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2024 Qatar Grand Prix: Full Schedule and Key Moments 2024 Qatar Grand Prix: Full Schedule and Key Moments
