WHERE WILL YOU BE THIS MONTH?

There are so many big events coming to Qatar in October that we’ve used our main feature to tell you all about them. The month kicks off with Expo 2023 Doha – a huge, sixmonth-long agricultural exhibition that’s not only a first for Qatar but is hugely significant in that it aims to tackle some of the major problems of the modern age, such as desertification of land and climate change.

The Geneva International Motor Show makes its regional debut here too with loads of new cars being unveiled alongside entertainment and expert forums and discussions. And, of course, the one we’re all super excited about. Formula 1 racing makes its return to Qatar. Since the country stepped in to stage the race during Covid, we’ve all been waiting for this major international sporting event to make its official comeback and we’ve got stats on the track, goss on the drivers, info on the entertainment and even dining deals. It’s a veritable F1 101. Read all about it!

THE BIG RACE

Qatar’s been waiting for Formula 1 for a very long time and, after the impromptu staging of the race in 2021 due to Covid restrictions at other venues, the country is more than ready to officially welcome the F1 Circus.

Racing 101

Practice and qualifying, in which grid positions are decided, take place on Friday, October 6. The Sprint Shootout and Sprint races – a much shorter distance over around 100km of the track – take place on Saturday, October 7. This is an exciting addition to the programme, which only began in 2021, and Qatar is one of only six venues to host Sprint racing this season. The big F1 race, running at 57 laps (303.8km) around the 5.418-kilometre Lusail International Circuit, takes place on Sunday, October 8.

Track Facts

Lusail International Circuit – the home of motorsport in Qatar – was built in just under a year by 1,000 workers at a cost of USD58 million.
The track launched in 2004 with the staging of the Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) – it now proudly hosts both bikes and cars.
Thanks to the installation of a revolutionary 3,600-bulb lighting system in 2008, Lusail hosted the first night race in MotoGP history. Kicking off at 8pm, the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023, will also be a night race, one of only five in the calendar.
The current F1 track lap record of one minute 23.196 seconds was recorded by Max Verstappen at the 2021 race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton.
Since the 2021 race, Lusail International Circuit has undergone a complete facelift with the capacity increased from 8,000 to more than 50,000. According to circuit CEO, Amro Al Hamad, even the asphalt was replaced, even though it was not necessary.
The track now houses an 85,000sq/m concert venue – turn the page to find out what’s happening there. There’s also a dedicated Fan Zone with entertainment and interactive F1- themed activities.
Beginning in 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship will host its season opener at Lusail, the Qatar 1812 km, in addition to the Prologue, the championship’s pre-season testing sessions.

Tickets

Tickets start at QR600 for three-day general admission with access to the Fan Zone and concerts. These ticket holders catch all the race action from Lusail Hill.

The turns to watch out for are 12, 13, 14 and 15 according to Lusail Circuit CEO Amro Al Hamad, himself a former endurance race driver. He told motorsport.com: “Turns 12, 13, 14 and 15 are very high-speed corners that require a lot of downforce. I don’t think there is any other track that has that feature of consecutive very high-speed corners. During the time I was racing and competing on the circuit, there was a little bit of lift off and I thought ‘Oh there’ll be some really high-speed corners and they’re really fun to go through’, but I found out that I was not fast enough through these corners. Seeing all the data from F1 teams, they go there really flat out and it’s really interesting to see.”

Driver Standings as we head into the Qatar F1
Max Verstappen – Red Bull
Sergio Perez – Red Bull
Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes AMG F1
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin F1 Team
Carlos Sainz – Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc – Scuderia Ferrari
Lando Norris – McLaren Racing
George Russell – Mercedes AMG F1
Oscar Piastri – McLaren Racing
Lance Stroll – Aston Martin F1 Team
Pierre Gasly – Alpine F1
Esteban Ocon – Alpine F1
Alexander Albon – Williams Racing
Nico Hulkenberg – Haas F1
Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo Racing
Guanyu Zhou – Alfa Romeo Racing
Yuki Tsunoda – Scuderia Alpha Tauri
Kevin Magnussen – Haas F1
Liam Lawson – Scuderia Alpha Tauri
Logan Sargeant – Williams Racing
Nyck de Vries – Scuderia Alpha Tauri (not racing)
Daniel Ricciardo – Scuderia Alpha Tauri (to be confirmed)