Official F1 Journal Track Guide - Lusail, Qatar

© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The Qatar Grand Prix is back for its third Grand Prix, this time as the penultimate race of the season, moved until the end of November/December to reduce the temperature for the drivers on track after last year's race.

Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive Drivers World Championship last weekend in Las Vegas after having won the title in the Qatar Sprint race last year.

With the Drivers Championship title sealed this weekend is all about the Constructions Championship title, with Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari all in the battle for the top three places.

The Qatar Grand Prix is holding the last Sprint race of the season, with even more points up for grabs than usual.

F2 and F1 Academy are also both racing at Lusail this weekend. 

© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Race Stats

Laps
     Sprint - 19
     Race - 57
Circuit Length - 5.419km
Sprint Distance - 102.961km
Race Distance - 308.611km

Corners - 16     10 Right   6 Left 

DRS Zones - 1 
      Detection - Exit Turn 15
      Activation - Exit Turn 16 

Down Force Level - Med/High 
Tyre Degradation - High 
Time at Full Throttle - 68%
Time Lost in Pitlane - 26.28 seconds 
Gear Changes - 36 per lap/2052 per race 
Pole Side - Left 
Tyre Compounds -
       Hard         Medium       Soft 
        C1               C2            C3

Minimum Starting
Tyre Pressures -     Front         Rear 
                             26.0psi      22.5psi

Maximum Tyre 
Camber -              Front         Rear
                             -2.75º        -1.50º  

Weekend Schedule

Friday
F1 Academy
Free Practice One     10:00 (GMT)
Free Practice Two     15:00 (GMT)
​
F2 
Free Practice              11:05 (GMT)
Qualifying                   16:10 (GMT)

F1
Free Practice One       13:30 (GMT)
Sprint Qualifying          17:30 (GMT)

Saturday
F1 Academy
Qualifying                   12:20 (GMT)
Race One                   20:05 (GMT)

F2
Sprint Race                16:20 (GMT)

F1
Sprint Race                 14:00 (GMT)
Qualifying                    18:00 (GMT)

Sunday
F1 Academy
Race Two                    11:00 (GMT)

F2
Feature Race              12:20 (GMT)  

F1
Race                           16:00 ​(GMT)

Track Stats

Times Held - 2
First Held - 2021
Pole Record - 1m 20.827s Hamilton (2021)
Lap Record - 1m 24.319s Verstappen (2023)
Winners - (2) Hamilton and Verstappen
Pole Sitters - (2) Hamilton and Verstappen
Most Driver Poles - (1) Hamilton and Verstappen
Most Team Poles - (1) Mercedes and Red Bull
Most Driver Wins - (1) Hamilton and Verstappen
​Most Team Wins - (1) Mercedes and Red Bull

Times Won From Pole - 2
Times Won From Front Row - 2
Lowest Starting Position to Win - 1st Hamilton and Verstappen
​Overtakes completed in 2023 - 108
Safety Car probability - 50%
Virtual Safety Car probability - 50%
Pit Stop loss time - 26.28 seconds

© Ferrari Media

Previous Results

2021
Qualifying - 
                 1 HAM 1.20.827
                 2 VER 1.21.424
                 3 BOT 1.21.478
Race Result - 
                    1 HAM (2 stop)
                    2 VER (3 stop)
                    3 ALO (1 stop)
Fastest Lap - 1.23.196  Verstappen Lap 57   
     
2023
Qualifying -
                  1 VER 1.23.778
                  2 RUS 1.24.219
                  3 HAM 1.24.305
Race -
                 1 VER (3 stop)
                 2 PIA (3 stop)
                 3 NOR (3 stop) 
Fastest Lap - 1.24.319 Verstappen Lap 56

Track Changes

• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 1.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 2.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 3.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 4.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 5.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 12.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 13.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 14.
  
• 2.0 m wide gravel strip installed behind kerb at exit Turn 15.
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 1.6
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 2.
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 3.
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 4.
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 5
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 10.
  
• Kerb height reduced at entry and exit Turn 12.
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 13.
  
• Kerb height reduced at exit Turn 14.
  
• White line moved to a distance of 1.5 m to the gravel at exit Turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15 and entry Turn 12.
  
• White line moved to a distance of 1.5 m to the back edge of the kerb at the exit of Turn 10.

© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Random Facts

• Qatar was the 34th country to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
• When it opened in 2004 the Lusail Circuit cost $58 million to build. 
• When F1 cars took to the track in 2021 they were 15.503 seconds faster than any series who has previously raced at the Lusail Circuit.
• Alonso completed the 2021 race with just 1 pit stop and held on to take 3rd place despite a rapidly approaching Sergio Perez on much fresher tyres. 
• Verstappen won his third title in Qatar last year in the Saturday sprint.

Anny Wooldridge
Writer at F1 Journal

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