High-octane F1 racing returns as the 2024 Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix gears up to be a thrilling ride!

Moving into the second year of its landmark 10-year deal which runs until 2032, the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix marks the continuation of the country’s commitment towards hosting world-class motorsport events and showcasing the nation’s growing prominence in the F1 world.

RACE REPORT

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Lusail International Circuit, events kick-off on Friday, November 29, with the Practice Session soon followed by the Sprint Qualifying (previously called the Shootout), an exciting addition to the Formula 1 weekend.

The Sprint itself takes place on Saturday, November 30, and is then followed by the main Qualifying round later in the evening, where grid positions for Sunday’s big race will be fiercely contested. Notably, Qatar is among only six global venues chosen to host F1 Sprint events in the 2024 season, making this an even more exclusive affair!

The Sprint is Formula 1 as we know it but in a shorter race format. It covers a distance of just 100km and lasts roughly around 30 minutes. A fast-paced racing spectacle it encourages an approach by the racers that’s more dynamic rather than strategic and also guarantees action since there are either points or grid position at stake. Also, unlike the Grand Prix, there are no mandatory pit stops since the race is too short for tyre changes to be effective.

Finally, all the efforts from the previous days culminate into the premier event on Sunday, December 1, with the main F1 Race, a thrilling showcase of the most elite racing teams battling it out over 57 laps (303.8km) around the 5.419km Lusail International Circuit for top finish on the podium.

Time For A Change

There’s big news in Formula 1 as the iconic racing series has teamed up with global luxury retailer LVMH which is likely to mean a new track timekeeper.

With its 75th anniversary coming up next year, F1 has announced a 10-year partnership with the luxury maison that includes brands such as Louis Vuitton and TAG Heuer, which are expected to be involved.

The agreement comes as Rolex, which has been the official F1 timekeeper for many decades, prepares to bring its involvement to a close, with TAG Heuer widely expected to take up the pole position.

At the crossroads of the LVMH Group’s values of creativity and excellence with Formula 1’s innovation and high-performance, the partnership will bring together the best of these two worlds and provide unparalleled experiences combining thrilling sport and elegant art-devivre, wheel-to-wheel racing and time-tested craftmanship, for enthusiasts, fans and clients.

LVMH and its teams will share their exceptional savoir0faire and entrepreneurial spirit with the world of Formula 1 through hospitality, bespoke activations, limited editions and outstanding content.

Further details of the partnership will be announced in early 2025.

TRACK FACTS

• Situated on the outskirts of Doha, the Lusail International Circuit is the only motorsport facility in Qatar and holds both Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) licences.
• Built in just under a year at a cost of USD58 million, the circuit was finished in time to host Qatar’s first-ever MotoGP race – the Marlboro Grand Prix of Qatar on October 2, 2004.
• The 5.4km layout was primarily designed for motorcycles, with a flowing design, a long main straight, exceeding 1km, and a mix of medium- to high-speed corners, particularly popular among riders. The track was later upgraded to host major automobile sporting events.
• In 2007, the circuit added permanent outdoor lighting for night races. Then in 2020, it underwent a significant upgrade to its floodlighting system which replaced the previous lights with a cutting-edge LED system that greatly enhances visibility during night races for both drivers and spectators.
• Spanning 5.4km, the circuit features a complex layout with 16 turns (10 right and six left) that challenges drivers and adds strategic depth to the race.
• ● The sequence from turns 12 to 14 features an almost flat-out, triple right-hand apex, posing significant challenges for tyre management. Drivers need to balance speed with tyre wear as they navigate this technically demanding section.
• The circuit’s main straight measures just over 1km, providing its only DRS (Drag Reduction System) zone. This section allows cars to reach exhilarating speeds, making it a thrilling section for overtaking and high-speed manoeuvrers on race day.
• The circuit hosted its first Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix in 2021 as an in-season replacement, leading to significant modifications to accommodate the cars, including upgraded barriers and kerbs.
• Before the second edition of the F1 Grand Prix in 2023, the circuit was renovated, with the facilities being upgraded and the capacity being increased from 8,000 to around 50,000.
• The current F1 lap record at the circuit is held by Max Verstappen who clocked in at one minute and 23.196 seconds during the Qatar Grand Prix in 2021.

THE DRIVERS

With just Brazil and Las Vegas to come before the F1 Circus heads to Qatar, there was still everything to race for as we went to press in a season that’s seen more on- and off-track excitement than we’ve witnessed in F1 in many years. The driver standings could easily change over the coming weekends and we’ll be watching avidly to see if Max Verstappen may, finally, be pipped to the post for the top spot in 2024.

As They Stand

Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris – McLaren
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
Oscar Piastri – McLaren
Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
George Russell – Mercedes
Sergio Perez – Red Bull Racing
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
Nico Hulkenberg – Haas
Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
Yuki Tsunoda – Team RB
Kevin Magnussen – Haas
Alexander Albon – Williams
Daniel Ricciardo – Team RB
Pierre Gasly – Alpine
Oliver Bearman – Haas
Franco Colapinto – Williams
Esteban Ocon – Alpine
Liam Lawson – Team RB (Ricciardo replacement)
Zhou Guanyu – Kick Sauber
Logan Sargeant – Williams
Valtteri Bottas – Kick Sauber

For The Gram

Everyone’s on Instagram these days and, if you want to know more about the drivers, you could do worse than to check out their social media accounts. It seems everybody’s doing it with the top star, Sir Lewis Hamilton, recording almost 38 million followers. That’s a staggering number and even more than the official F1 account!

His closest rivals are Charles Leclerc on 16.8 million, Max Verstappen with 12.7 million, Carlos Sainz 10.5 million and Lando Norris on nine million – we think we can confidently predict that his numbers will rise as the championship race heats up since he’s the only one with a chance of catching Max.

And don’t forget to check out the memes and trolls, some of them are hilarious!

Watch It

We have to say it, in the run up to the big race weekend, we’ve been binge watching Drive To Survive on Netflix. We’re loving the, seemingly, behind-the-scenes look at the drivers and teams – the first season even had us feeling sorry for Esteban Ocon when he was turfed out of his seat despite his best efforts. The series started in 2019, following the 2018 Season, and has run each year since then with the 2024 showings beginning in February. Yes, it’s produced in collaboration with Formula One, so, you’re definitely not getting a ‘warts and all’ exposé but it’s addictive watching with tantrums aplenty and a fun way to learn more about the sport’s personalities and myriad regulations, many of which we’ve seen popping up in the news in recent weeks.

Read It

If your interest is now truly piqued – ours was – then we highly recommend you grab a copy of The Formula a fab book by sports journos Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg that was released in March this year. Billed as telling ‘how rogues, geniuses and speak freaks reengineered F1 into the world’s fastest-growing sport’, it really is a proper behind-the-scenes look. Without being overly technical, it gives a bit of history, information on some mechanical wizardry, tales from boardrooms and courtrooms and details of some of the skullduggery over the years that your average fan knows nothing about. If you love Formula One, prepare to be enthralled.

AND THERE’S MORE

• Sharing the spotlight and enriching the motorsport extravaganza in Qatar will also be the next generation of female talent in racing. The Formula 1 Academy, a competitive racing series for young women aged 16 to 25, will also be making its debut at the Lusail International Circuit,
  This innovative series is dedicated to breaking down barriers and promoting diversity, inclusivity and accessibility in motorsport. By nurturing a new generation of female drivers, the Academy aims to increase their representation in the sport and pave the way for them to ascend to the sport’s highest levels.
  The event features 15 talented drivers from around the globe, including standout participants like Hamda Al Qubaisi and Amna Al Qubaisi from the UAE.
  In this one-make series, drivers take the wheel of identical Tatuus T421 chassis, fitted with 13-inch tyres provided by Pirelli. Each car is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine from Autotecnica, delivering 174hp and reaching impressive top speeds of up to 240km/h.
  The weekend will kick-off with practice sessions, allowing drivers to familiarise themselves with the circuit’s nuances before entering a qualifying round that sets the stage for two thrilling races. And, as the penultimate date of Formula 1 Academy’s hotly-anticipated six-round series, this is sure to be a hard-fought battle.
• Next up is the exhilarating FIA Formula 2 Championship, where 22 identical single-seater cars take to the track. This one-make race allows drivers to truly showcase their skills in front of an eager Formula 1 audience, adding another layer of excitement to the event.
• And, if you still want more, there’s also the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East – the region’s favourite one-make GT series, organised by Lechner Racing. It offers a platform for the Arab world’s most promising drivers to broaden their racing experience and, with its truly local flavour, it’s definitely worth a serious watch to spot the stars of the future.

ALL THE GOSS

Max Verstappen remained tight-lipped after the Singapore Grand Prix, seemingly protesting the governing body’s decision to penalise him for swearing during a media session telling a reporter: “I would prefer if you asked these questions outside the room,” highlighting his protest.

The Red Bull driver was in the news again in Mexico with his driving described as ‘dangerous’ and ‘ridiculous’ following an incident with Championship rival Lando Norris in which the Englishman was first forced off the track and then the Dutchman ran wide, resulting in two sets of penalty points. Max later brushed off the penalties as ‘not my biggest problem of the race’.

Daniel Ricciardo got the axe from the Red Bull squad and was replaced by reserve driver Liam Lawson following the Singapore GP. However, team boss Christian Horner seems keen to keep the popular Aussie on board, perhaps in a different role. Meanwhile Australian Supercars Championship chief, Shane Howard, has said he would welcome the driver with open arms and there is also talk around the paddock of interest from other teams.

In other Red Bull news Christian Horner (of whose own struggles this season we will say no more) refused to confirm that driver Sergio (Checo) Perez will complete the season after a disappointing Mexican race which saw the team drop to third, behind Ferrari, in the Constructors’ Championship.

And, Red Bull senior advisor Dr Helmut Marko seemingly confirmed rumours that the outfit could be looking at McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri.

US Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, whose fate will be known in just a few days, revealed during a recent interview with Howard Stern that she’s an avid follower of Formula 1 and supports Lewis Hamilton.

And the Brit champion found himself in a bit of hot water with a social media post mentioning his excitement at returning to the Brazilian GP – it’s well known that he loves the country, being an avid fan of its late F1 hero Ayrton Senna, even becoming an honorary citizen in 2022. His post, which was a simple Brazilian flag, did however attract fury from one set of fans, though not of the F1 kind. Football supporters mistakenly thought he was supporting Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior for the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize. Doh!

By the way – belated Happy Birthday Roscoe IYKNK. ✤

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