Qatar Grand Prix

The penultimate race of the year is another night race and the last Sprint format weekend of this season. The big news since Vegas is the agreement in principle for General Motors (branded as Cadillac) to join the F1 grid in the 2026 season. More worryingly there have been a series of people being fired from senior FIA positions, some of which smack of Mohammed Ben Sulayem getting rid of any dissenting voices.[BBC]

The main Constructors Championship battle is between McLaren (608 points), Ferrari (584) and Red Bull (555); McLaren need to outscore Ferrari by 21 points to take the title. As for the Drivers, NOR (340) is currently P2 but only just ahead of LEC (319).

Free Practice

1. FP1: LEC (1:21.953), NOR, PIA, SAI, TSU

(Reminder: sprint format means just one practice session)

Sprint Qualifying (SQ)

Air temperature 18°C; track 22°C; humidity 64%

Sprint Qualifying session 1 (SQ1)
12mins on medium compound tyres
MAG 1:23.750
BOT 1:23.407
LEC 1:23.259
NOR 1:22.785
5mins left; bottom 5 are ALB, PER, LAW, COL, ALO* (*yet to set a time)
SAI 1:22.261
LEC 1:22.156
LAW touches a gravel trap but keeps his foot in
NOR 1:22.021
(RUS equals NOR’s P1 time)
2mins left; bottom 5 are STR, ALO, ZHO, HUL, COL
HAM throwing up sparks on the kerbs
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are ALB, ALO, ZHO, HUL, COL
NOR 1:21.356
ALO P6, PER P16
PER P13, BOT P16
LAW P13, TSU P16
BOT P7, OCO P16
COL P19
ALB P15, PER P16
TSU P17
Back of the grid: PER, TSU, OCO, ZHO, COL

Replay shows PER and LEC battling over the line as they started their final flying lap
Radio from PER; whining about LEC but it’s no surprise he’s eliminated because he’s a long way off the pace
Stewards have a laundry lists of drivers they’re reviewing for going too slowly at the end of SQ1

Sprint Qualifying session 2 (SQ2)
10mins on medium compound tyres
A lot of cars rolling out of the garages; if the track continues to improve, why don’t they wait?
MAG 1:22.901
3mins into SQ2; only BOT in the pits
HUL 1:22.416
VER 1:22.188
LEC 1:22.130
MAG’s time is deleted for exceeding track limits
PIA 1:22.050
4mins left; bottom 5 are LAW, RUS, HAM, BOT, MAG
(VER matches PIA’s P1 time)
SAI 1:21.809
RUS 1:21.488
PIA’s lap time deleted, dropping him to P14
NOR 1:21.231
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are GAS, ALB, LAW, BOT, MAG
ALB P10, STR P11
LAW P8, ALB P11
BOT P12
MAG P15
GAS P9, ALO P11
Middle of the grid: ALO, ALB, BOT, STR, MAG

Top 10 shootout is between NOR, RUS, PIA, HAM, VER, SAI, LEC, HUL, GAS, LAW

Sprint Qualifying session 3 (SQ3)
8mins on soft tyres
Expect VER to whine about GAS being released into his path, but there was absolutely no need for VER to take evasive action
LAW 1:22.577
GAS 1:22.341
LEC 1:21.705
NOR 1:21.012
PIA P2
VER P3
RUS P3
HAM P5
Order after (most drivers’) first run: NOR, PIA, RUS, VER, HAM, LEC, GAS, LAW, SAI, HUL
HUL P7
NOR pits!
Chequered flag; order is NOR, PIA, RUS, VER, HAM, LEC, HUL, GAS, LAW, SAI
PIA P2
VER P4
RUS P2
HAM P5
LAW P7
SAI P4
LEC P5
GAS P8
Front of the grid: NOR, RUS, PIA, SAI, LEC, VER, HAM, GAS, LAW, HUL
LAW’s lap time deleted, dropping him to P10
Replay shows NOR running a bit wide, touching the gravel, which is probably why he pitted

Provisional Sprint grid: NOR, RUS, PIA, SAI, LEC, VER, HAM, GAS, HUL, LAW, ALO, ALB, BOT, STR, MAG, PER, TSU, OCO, ZHO, COL

Post-quali penalties:
PER and TSU were reprimanded for going too slowly in SQ1
Changes to PER and COL’s cars under parc ferme conditions they will both have to start the Sprint race from the pit lane

Sprint Race

Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Air temperature 22°C; track 27°C; humidity 52%; the wind is picking up
Grid: NOR, RUS, PIA, SAI, LEC, VER, HAM, GAS, HUL, LAW, ALO, ALB, BOT, STR, MAG, TSU, OCO, ZHO; PER and COL start from the pit lane

NOR leads everyone away on the formation lap
PER is already waiting at the pit exit
Everyone on medium compound tyres except ZHO on softs
RUS passes NOR before Turn 1, trying to get in NOR’s head before the start?
Long wait for the back of the grid to form up

01/19: NOR gets a good start and leads through Turn 1
PIA squeezes past RUS to take P2
HAM past LEC for P5
VER has dropped to P9

02: NOR, PIA, RUS, SAI, HAM, LEC, HUL, GAS, VER, ALO, MAG, BOT, STR, OCO, ALB, LAW, ZHO, TSU, COL, PER
ZHO past LAW for P16

03: NOR fastest lap 1:25.961 (although there’s no point for f/lap in the Sprint)
DRS enabled
RUS has a look inside PIA but the McLaren defends P2

04: RUS f/lap 1:25.803
RUS dives inside PIA but PIA stays ahead
NOR seems to have backed off a little to give his teammate DRS to defend against RUS

05/19: NOR, PIA, RUS, SAI, HAM, LEC, HUL, GAS, VER, MAG, ALO, BOT, STR, OCO, ALB, ZHO, LAW, TSU, COL, PER
SAI f/lap 1:25.747
Replay of RUS’ move last lap – was there contact with PIA? RUS complained PIA turned in on him

06: SAI has closed up on RUS, but HAM is closing on SAI

07: NOR has let PIA get very close – hopefully PIA’s been told not to attack NOR
LEC f/lap 1:25.522

08: COL takes P18 from ZHO
VER inside GAS for P8
PER past ZHO for P19

09: RUS f/lap 1:25.468
VER f/lap 1:25.224
Even with DRS, PIA’s under threat from RUS
ZHO is 3sec/lap off the pace – the soft tyres are done

10/19: NOR, PIA, RUS, SAI, HAM, LEC, HUL, VER, GAS, MAG, ALO, BOT, STR, OCO, ALB, LAW, TSU, COL, PER, ZHO
LEC f/lap 1:25.110
Replay of the start in the pit lane – the light went green but PER was looking in his mirror so COL passed him

11: NOR f/lap 1:25.067
ZHO pits from P20; medium tyres go on; rejoins P20 – I’m surprised they didn’t retire
Radio for NOR asking for more help for PIA

12: SAI f/lap 1:24.904
TSU has DRS behind teammate LAW

13: RUS f/lap 1:24.555
LEC attacks HAM; wheel-to-wheel; LEC squeaks past to take P5

14: NOR f/lap 1:24.329
RUS has another dive into Turn 1 but PIA defends P2; was that a late move by PIA?

15/19: NOR, PIA, RUS, SAI, LEC, HAM, HUL, VER, GAS, MAG, ALO, BOT, STR, OCO, ALB, LAW, TSU, COL, PER, ZHO
Radio from NOR reporting “struggling with the fronts; do I help him?”; he’s told yes, help PIA
PER pits from P19; new front wing; new mediums; rejoins P20

16: HAM has lost DRS behind LEC

17: RUS still filling PIA’s mirrors but SAI is on RUS’ rear wing

18: LEC f/lap 1:24.203
PIA has lost DRS but RUS is 0.95sec back so he’s only just hanging on to DRS

19/19: LEC f/lap 1:23.923
RUS has another look but PIA continues to defend P2

NOR lets PIA through out of the final turn, letting his teammate win
PIA takes the chequered flag
Provisional result: PIA, NOR, RUS, SAI, LEC, HAM, HUL, VER; GAS, MAG, ALO, BOT, STR, OCO, ALB, LAW, TSU, COL, ZHO, PER

Qualifying

Air temperature 19°C; track 22°C; humidity 60%

Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
RUS and MAG sitting at the end of the pit lane; other cars joining them in the minute before Q1 starts
RUS is on medium compound tyres but the majority are going out on softs; I expect it’s just to scrub a new set and RUS will pit
Yes, RUS pits to swap to softs
Everyone on track
MAG 1:23.505
BOT 1:22.753
MAG’s time is deleted for exceeding track limits
STR 1:22.384
SAI aborts his lap and pits
NOR 1:22.029
VER 1:21.713
COL and ALB have their lap times deleted
RUS 1:21.519
5mins left; bottom 5 are HUL, ALB, ZHO, COL, OCO
PIA clips the gravel trap and kicks up some dust
RUS 1:21.335
(NOR goes P2 but has the time deleted; drops back to P3)
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are TSU, HUL, ALB, COL, OCO
COL P19
ALB P15, LAW P16
OCO P20
LEC 1:21.278
LAW P16
TSU P15, ALB P16
RUS 1:21.241
Back of the grid: ALB, LAW, HUL, COL OCO

Qualifying session 2
RUS 1:21.161
VER 1:21.085
PER runs wide – that lap will be deleted
ALO does the same, aborts his lap
SAI was released almost into HAM; that might be a penalty for the Ferrari; incident noted, it’ll be investigated after the session
RUS 1:21.084
5mins left; bottom 5 are BOT, ZHO, TSU, STR, ALO
VER 1:21.049
NOR 1:20.983
The bottom 5 have all just pitted for new soft tyres
TSU P10, MAG P11
MAG P6, TSU P11
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are TSU, BOT, ZHO, STR, ALO
ZHO P11
STR P14
BOT P12
ALO P7, HAM P11
HAM P5, GAS P11
VER 1:20.687
Middle of the grid: GAS, ZHO, BOT, TSU, STR

Top 10 shootout is between VER, NOR, LEC, RUS, HAM, PIA, SAI, ALO, MAG, PER

Qualifying session 3
VER remains in the garage while everyone else is on track
MAG 1:21.500
SAI 1:21.042
RUS P3
LEC 1:20.885
PIA P5
PER P4
HAM P7
ALO’s lap time is deleted
RUS 1:20.575
PIA P4
HAM P3
5mins left; order is: RUS, LEC, HAM, SAI, PIA, MAG, PER; no time from VER, NOR, ALO
VER P2
NOR aborts another lap; he’s got time for just one quick lap now
Chequered flag; order is RUS, VER, LEC, HAM, SAI, PIA, MAG, PER, NOR, ALO
SAI P5
MAG P7
LEC P3
PIA P3
NOR P3
ALO P8
VER 1:20.520
PER P9
HAM P6
VER clearly blocking RUS – that ought to be a penalty
Front of the grid: VER, RUS, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM, SAI, ALO, PER, MAG

Provisional grid: VER, RUS, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM, SAI, ALO, PER, MAG, GAS, ZHO, BOT, TSU, STR, ALB, LAW, HUL, COL OCO

Post-Quali penalties
Ferrari were fined €5,000 for SAI’s unsafe release into HAM’s path
VER received a 1-grid place penalty and one point on his licence for “driving unnecessarily slowly” (resulting in blocking RUS) which of course VER and Red Bull think is ridiculous
Whiny Spice likens it to “taking a dive” in football, claiming RUS caused the problem by being too fast – yeah, sure, whatever helps you sleep

Race

Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Grid: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM, SAI, ALO, PER, MAG, GAS, ZHO, BOT, TSU, STR, ALB, LAW, HUL, COL OCO
HAM was returning to the pit lane when PIA flew past; the Race Director’s notes say not to do that, so will PIA get a penalty?
PER has been noted for “driving erratically” in the pit entry
The grid is strangely empty – there’s usually a ton of “wannabe celebrities” who are there to be seen, but this grid seems to be just the people who actually need to be there
Looks like Aston Martin have taken the nose section off ALO’s car; adjusting the pedal box?

RUS leads everyone away on the formation lap
Track 23°C
Everyone on the medium tyre except HUL on hards
RUS has a long wait for the grid to form up

01/57: VER inside RUS off the line, but NOR sweeps past both of them to take P1
Yellow flags – COL and OCO off in Turn 1
SC deployed
HUL is limping back to the pits with a left-rear puncture

02[SC]: VER, NOR, RUS, LEC, PIA, SAI, PER, ALO, HAM, TSU, MAG, GAS, BOT, LAW, ZHO, STR, ALB, HUL; out: OCO, COL
Replay of the start shows VER pushing RUS wide left the door wide open for NOR to come through
Looks like HUL lost the rear, hit OCO and he in turn hit COL
ALB was hit by STR, spinning the Williams around; ZHO was right behind and immediately blamed STR
Did HAM jump the start?

03[SC]: STR and HUL have both pitted; they’re P17 and P18 respectively; both now on hard tyres

04[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
Replay of lap 1 shows VER pushing NOR off track in Turn 2
VER slows, backing up the pack ready for the restart
VER puts his foot down before the final turn

05/57: Yellow flags – LAW taps BOT, spins in Turn 1 but he’s rejoined the track, now down in P18
HAM and TSU passed ALO

06: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM, TSU, MAG, ALO, GAS, ZHO, BOT, ALB, HUL, STR, LAW
DRS enabled
MAG past ALO for P10; GAS past ALO too

07: VER fastest lap 1:26.502
PIA has DRS behind RUS

08: VER f/lap 1:26.376
STR given 10sec penalty for causing the collision with ALB
STR pits, serves the 10sec penalty; sounds like STR wants to retire

09: VER f/lap 1:26.280
Radio from ALO complaining about “two years and the same problem on the straight”
Replay shows ALO ran wide, rejoined right in front of MAG so he dives off track and lets the Haas through
HAM noted for potential false start; replay shows he did move before the lights went out; he even apologised to the team over the radio

10/57: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM, MAG, TSU, GAS, ALO, ZHO, BOT, ALB, HUL, LAW, STR
STR pits, retires

12: VER is 2sec clear of NOR

13: TSU tries to defend but GAS takes P10

14: NOR f/lap 1:25.794
HAM has DRS behind PER
ALO around the outside of TSU to take P11
HAM given 5sec penalty for the false start

15/57: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM*, MAG, GAS, ALO, TSU, BOT, ALB, HUL, LAW; out: STR, OCO, COL
LEC f/lap 1:25.660
ZHO takes P12 from TSU

16: NOR f/lap 1:25.535
Radio from TSU, “I’m pushing 100%” but now BOT is lining up to pass him

17: NOR f/lap 1:25.508
NOR washed wide but keeps it out of the gravel

18: NOR f/lap 1:25.390

19: VER f/lap 1:25.079
Radio from HAM asking how slow he is compared to the front runners; he’s about 1.0-1.5sec off their pace

20/57: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM, MAG, GAS, ALO, ZHO, TSU, BOT, ALOB, HUL, LAW
BOT around TSU for P13

21: VER f/lap 1:24.896
GAS closing on MAG
PIA has DRS behind RUS

22: BOT touches a gravel trap and kicks up some dust

23: NOR f/lap 1:24.865

24: VER f/lap 1:24.856
RUS pits from P3; hards; slow rear-right; rejoins P11
Radio from HAM asking if the car is broken; Bono says it’s “just under-balanced”

25/57: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM, MAG, GAS, ALO, RUS, ZHO, BOT, TSU, ALB, HUL, LAW; out: STR, OCO, COL
PIA putting in some quick sector times now he’s no longer behind RUS
BOT pits; hards; P17

27: RUS fills ALO’s mirrors but you’re not going to intimidate the ex-World Champion

28: HAM has a big snap of oversteer, touches a gravel trap

29: RUS still looking for a way around ALO

30/57: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM, GAS, ALO, RUS
Double waved yellow flags – there’s a wing mirror in the middle of the main straight – that could be very dangerous
Replay shows it came off ALB’s Williams

31: Mechanics are getting ready because they ought to be a SC or VSC so someone can remove the mirror
Radio from VER asking the team to check whether NOR lifted for the yellow flags; he’s told NOR didn’t, hoping to trigger a penalty
Why isn’t the SC deployed? Don’t they remember Felipe Massa’s accident in 2009?

32: VER f/lap 1:24.413
HUL pits; switches from hards to medium tyres; rejoins P16

34: VER f/lap 1:24.350
BOT moves off the racing line to let LEC through, but the Sauber hits the mirror
HAM has a puncture – is that from the debris?
SAI has a puncture too

35/57: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, SAI, PER, HAM, GAS, RUS, ALO
PIA pits from P3; hards; P5
SAI pits; P10
SC deployed – better late than never?
HAM pits

36[SC]: VER pits, followed by VER, LEC and PER
RUS pits again; more hard tyres
SC will lead everyone through the pit lane
Radio from RUS, furious that he’s on hard tyres again

37[SC]: VER continues trying to get a penalty for NOR
Replay of ALO released from his box alongside MAG; they run wheel-to-wheel down the pit lane; that’s got to be investigated

38[SC]: Radio from NOR complaining HAM brake-tested him; replay shows HAM braking hard at the speed limit line (pit entry) behind the SC
Lapped cars (HAM and BOT) can pass the SC to unlap themselves

39[SC]: Order is VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, PER, GAS, RUS, SAI, ZHO, ALO, MAG, TSU, ALB, HUL, LAW, HAM, BOT; out: STR, OCO, COL
Everyone on hard tyres except ALO, MAG, HUL and BOT on mediums and ALB on softs
SC in at the end of this lap
PER has pulled off, stopped at Turn 15
VER slows to a crawl
Replay shows PER spun – engine locked up?

40/57: GAS locks up, runs wide in Turn 1
Yellow flag
HUL is in the gravel
VSC deployed… replaced by full SC

41[SC]: Replay of PIA challenging LEC but the Ferrari defended P3
TSU and LAW pit for soft tyres
NOR under investigation for failing to slow under yellow flags

42[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
VER accelerates away before Turn 16 for the restart

43: LEC has a look at NOR but the McLaren defends P2
Radio from PIA asking the team to check his front-left; he can see sparks and feels vibrations; he’s told it all looks good
RUS kicks up some dust

44: DRS enabled
NOR given 10-sec stop/go penalty; VER got what he wanted
ALB inside MAG; contact; MAG runs wide

45/57: VER, NOR*, LEC, PIA, RUS, GAS, SAI, ALO, ZHO, ALB, MAG, BOT, TSU, HAM, LAW; out: HUL, PER, STR, OCO, COL
NOR f/lap 1:23.473
Radio for VER telling him NOR’s penalty

46: VER f/lap 1:23.393(?)
NOR pits from P2; serves 10sec penalty; rejoins P15, dead last
HAM noted for speeding in the pit lane

47: HAM given drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane

48: VER f/lap 1:23.303
HAM serves his drive-through; he wants to park the car but he’s told no; rejoins P15
NOR f/lap 1:22.936

49: MAG around ALB for P9
NOR f/lap 1:22.640

50/57: VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, GAS, SAI, ALO, ZHO, MAG, ALB, BOT, TSU, LAW, NOR, HAM; out: HUL, PER, STR, OCO, COL
ALB/MAG incident under investigation

51: NOR closes on LAW and easily past for P13
BOT catching on ALB

52: NOR takes P12 from TSU
BOT has a look at ALB but runs wide

53: SAI has a bit dose of oversteer in the final turn
BOT past ALB for P10
NOR breezes past ALB too

54: ALB given 10-sec penalty for causing a collision with MAG
NOR takes P10 from BOT

55/57: VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, GAS, SAI, ALO, ZHO, MAG, NOR, BOT, ALB*, TSU, LAW, HAM
SAI has a look inside GAS but the Alpine defends P5
NOR f/lap 1:22.471
HAM past LAW for P14

56: RUS noted for SC infringement
ALB pits; softs; rejoins P15
HAM takes P12 from TSU

57/57: SAI right of GAS’ rear wing
NOR f/lap 1:22.384

VER takes the chequered flag
RUS given 5sec penalty for SC infringement (failing to maintain a 10 car-length distance behind the SC) but he’s still P4

Provisional result: VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, GAS, SAI, ALO, ZHO, MAG, NOR; BOT, HAM, TSU, LAW, ALB
DNF: HUL, PER, STR, OCO, COL
Fastest lap: NOR (lap 56)

Quick summary on in-race penalties

• HAM: jump start = 5 seconds
• HAM: speeding in the pit lane = drive-through penalty
• NOR: not slowing for yellow flag = 10-sec stop/go penalty + 3 penalty points
• STR: collision with ALB = 10sec + 2 penalty points
• LAW: collision with BOT = 10sec + 2 penalty points
• ALB: collision with MAG = 10sec + 2 penalty points
• RUS: SC infringement = 5sec + 1 penalty point

Post-race penalties
Will ALB/Williams be penalised for losing the mirror that caused punctures for HAM and SAI?

[Reload/refresh for more updates]

[2024 calendar and driver line-up]