Facts & History – Qatar Grand Prix

System 1 made its inaugural go to to Qatar in 2021 on the Lusail Circuit, close to the capital Doha. F1 returned in 2023 and can proceed to race in Qatar till a minimum of 2031.

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The 2026 Qatar Grand Prix will happen from November 27-29

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Following the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix for a second successive 12 months, System 1 was left with a gap in its 2021 schedule. Following months of hypothesis, it was lastly confirmed in September 2021 that Lusail Circuit would fill the hole. The Qatar Grand Prix shaped the final stage of the ultimate triple header of the 12 months, with races in Mexico and Brazil having taken place on the 2 previous weekends.

Lusail Circuit is situated round 30km north of Doha. The 5.4km format runs clockwise and options sixteen turns. It was inbuilt below a 12 months, with work carried out by a workforce of over 1,000 individuals. Constructed at a price of $58 million, the circuit opened in 2004 and hosted a spherical of the MotoGP season. Lusail has since turn into a everlasting fixture on the MotoGP calendar, and hosted the collection’ first ever evening race in 2008.

The opposite race of the 2009 GP2 Asia weekend at Lusail was gained by Perez’s future Drive India team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. The German racer held the file for the quickest ever lap on the observe, having taken pole place for the GP2 Asia function race in 2009 with a lap time of 1:35.741. Lewis Hamilton broke that file by some 13 seconds in qualifying for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.

System 1 legends have raced at Lusail Circuit within the short-lived Grand Prix Masters championship. 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell took victory when the collection visited Qatar in April 2006.

What Occurred on the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix?

In some ways, the Qatar Grand Prix couldn’t have joined the F1 calendar at a greater time. Qatar hosted the third to final race weekend of the 22-round 2021 F1 season. With the title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen nonetheless very a lot undecided, it was all to play for below the lights. Hamilton gained the race, closing to inside simply eight factors of Verstappen’s championship lead. The Qatar Grand Prix was the third full evening race to hitch the System 1 calendar, after the Singapore and Bahrain Grands Prix, the latter of which switched to being a floodlit race in 2014.

The one DRS zone was situated on the kilometre lengthy foremost straight – so Flip 1 was one of the best place to make an overtaking manoeuvre. Difficult corners – particularly the excessive pace complicated between Turns 12 and 14 – examined the drivers. Tyre put on was a decisive issue on this demanding format. No fewer than 4 drivers suffered tyre failures over the course of the race. A profitable one-stopper was Fernando Alonso, who recorded his first podium end in over seven years.

Sprints and Rising Attendances in Qatar

System 1 returned to Lusail Circuit for the second operating of the Qatar Grand Prix on October 6-8, 2023. It was absent from the 2022 calendar as a result of nation internet hosting the FIFA World Cup within the closing months of 2022.

Between the 2021 and 2023 races, Lusail Circuit underwent main renovations. Work included the development of a brand new pit and paddock complicated, whereas circuit capability was elevated to 52,000. Weekend attendance on the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix grew by 40,000 from the inaugural race’s determine, to 120,000. It grew by an extra 35,000 in 2024, to only below 155,000 with the race weekend promoting out in line with System 1.

The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix was notable for Max Verstappen’s third title win. The Dutchman secured the honours through the Saturday Dash race, changing into the primary driver in nearly 40 years to not win the title on a Sunday. The Dash occasion additionally noticed Oscar Piastri declare his maiden win in System 1. The 2023 race weekend was additionally notable for terribly sizzling situations, which pushed the drivers to the restrict – a lot in order that a number of drivers fell ailing throughout and after the race. Tyres had been additionally a speaking level, with race stint lengths mandated over security issues.

Changes to the observe in 2024 meant that the tyre points had been absent for the observe’s third look on the calendar, whereas a date change – to early December – meant that drivers escaped the intense warmth they’d skilled one 12 months beforehand. Verstappen headed to Qatar having already been topped Champion. Like in 2023, Piastri gained the Dash, whereas Verstappen gained the Grand Prix itself.

Attendance continued to develop in 2025, to nearly 163,000. For the third 12 months in a row, Piastri gained the Dash whereas Verstappen gained the Grand Prix. The race arrange a three-way title decider on the closing race in Abu Dhabi. Tyres and technique had been as soon as once more a key focus level, with drivers restricted to 25 laps per stint. Consequently, an early race Security Automobile interval within the 57-lap race proved a pivotal second. Whereas Verstappen pitted, the 2 McLaren drivers didn’t – all however sealing victory for the Pink Bull driver.

The Way forward for Racing in Qatar

Race promoters have signed a long-term ten-year deal, which sees the Qatar Grand Prix turn into a everlasting fixture on the F1 calendar from 2023 till a minimum of 2031. The Qatar Grand Prix might transfer away from Lusail Circuit within the close to future. Whereas the observe underwent upgrades forward of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, there are plans for a brand new purpose-built venue elsewhere in Qatar. A road race in capital metropolis Doha has additionally been mooted as a possible vacation spot for the race within the coming years.

Qatar Grand Prix: Quick Details

The principle straight at Lusail Circuit is simply over a kilometre lengthy.

After F1 raced in Qatar for the primary time in 2021, the game moved to Saudi Arabia for the primary race at Jeddah Corniche Circuit. It was the primary time that there have been two successive races at new venues because the 1970 German and Austrian Grands Prix.

Over 500km of wiring helps to maintain Lusail Circuit illuminated at evening.

Qatar will get solely 9 days value of rain in a 12 months – but it surely managed to trigger havoc with the 2009 MotoGP race at Lusail Circuit. Poor climate situations noticed the race delayed by someday, going down on a Monday!

McLaren recorded their five hundredth podium end on the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. Ferrari had been the one group to realize the feat earlier than McLaren did so.

The FIFA World Cup came about in Qatar in November-December 2022. To keep away from the extreme summer time warmth, it was the primary time that the World Cup came about in a month aside from Could, June or July.

For some time, Lusail Circuit was the most important lit sporting venue on the earth. Its title was taken by Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi when it opened in 2009.

Max Verstappen’s title win in 2023 noticed Qatar turn into the twenty second totally different nation through which the Drivers’ Championship had been determined.