Formula 1 now heads to Qatar after Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ title in Las Vegas for a fourth consecutive year, however three teams are still in with a chance to claim the Constructors’ title as there is still 103 points on the table.
The last back-to-back of the longest ever Formula 1 season gets underway in Qatar, the sixth Grand Prix weekend to run the Sprint format this season.
An eleven hour time difference separate Doha from Las Vegas. They are both night races, held on the edge of large deserts, but that’s where the similarities end.
When it comes to the tyres to be used Pirelli have picked C3 (Soft), C2 (Medium), C1 (Hard). With the Lusail track, the tyres are subjected to energy levels comparable to those at Suzuka and Silverstone so the hardest of compounds will be used.
This is the third edition of the Qatar Grand Prix, the two previous events having been held in 2021 and 2023.
Last year the weekend was affected by a decision taken by the FIA, imposing a maximum of 18 on the number of laps that one set of tyres could complete in the race, which led to all the driver making three pit stops.
Over the past few months, the FIA and Pirelli have worked together to prepare for this Grand Prix to ensure that what happened last year will not be repeated.
The pyramid-shaped kerbs have had their tips rounded off at seven of the track’s 16 corners.
It’s hard to avoid the high temperature emanating from the Lusail track which was resurfaced in time for last year’s Grand Prix, to the extent that graining could be a feature.
This could have a significant impact on race strategy with the tyres possibly suffering from significant thermal degradation.
Jordan's Track Talk 
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