It is penulatimate round of the 2024 Formula One season. As the end of this year’s competition fast approaches, let’s take a look at what we can expect from this race in Qatar.
Hosted at the Lusail International Circuit, the Qatar Grand Prix is the twenty third race of this season, and the final Sprint Race weekend of the year. A full night race since its conception in 2021, get ready for bright lights and late nights on track. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are the only ones to win here thus far. Will a third driver join this elite club this weekend?
Competition is still hot in the Constructor’s Championship race. The battle for sixth is the tightest, with three teams within four points of each other. McLaren are ahead of Ferrari, with Red Bull within touching distance of the pair, although rather far adrift. That being said, anything can happen.
A Sprint Weekend
The race in Qatar marks the final Sprint Race weekend of the 2024 season. This changes the usual schedule of the weekend, meaning we will have racing action from Friday until Sunday. Sprint Qualifying is on Friday afternoon, with the shorter Sprint Race on Saturday morning. This will take place before the standard Qualifying session, which will happen on Saturday afternoon. The main race, as usual, will occur on Sunday afternoon.
Due to the Sprint Race weekend format, there will only be one Free Practice session this weekend, occurring on Friday morning. This is vital time for the teams to prepare for all four competitive sessions over the course of the weekend. Expect packed programs from all teams.
Hot and Bothered
It is looking unlikely. The weather seems to be moderate and dry ahead of the weekend. Temperatures should stay around 20 celcius throughout, with no rain predicted. Due to regularly higher temperatures, and high tire ware due to other factors a this track, the three hardest tyre compounds are to be used in Qatar.
Team By Team
Despite Max Verstappen securing his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship title last weekend in Las Vegas, the competition is still titillating this weekend. Red Bull must continue form akin to Verstappen’s recent performances if they wish to move up in the Constructor’s standings in the last couple of races.
Mercedes come from a 1-2 in Vegas, and will want to continue their momentum coming into the final races. Only one of their cars finished in 2023 in Qatar; an episode like that would halt the progress they have made in recent races.
Last year this track particularly favoured McLaren, with both their drivers finishing Sunday on the podium just behind Verstappen. A performance similar to this would be great for the team as it would secure Constructor’s Championship title for them.
Similarly to Mercedes, Ferrari had a mixed bag last year in Qatar. They will need to ensure both cars finish ahead of the McLarens to keep their Constructor’s Championship hopes going.
Aston Martin are pretty safe in fifth place, but a good performance is always desired. It would be a great to end the season with a performance similar to how they began this year.
The battle for sixth is extremely close. Haas, Alpine and RB are within four points of each other, fighting typically lower points positions to gain sixth place. This is the most exciting racing we will see, with the closest competition and the most on the line. Out of these three teams, only Alpine scored in Qatar last year.
Stake Sauber will be longing for a repeat of their performance here last year, where both cars scored. They are still yet to score this season, so any points will be gladly welcomed by the team. It would be a lovely way to send off both drivers, neither of whom have a seat for next season.
Unfortunately for Williams, unless they have the surprise performance of the season, they are almost certainly stuck in ninth place. Too far from eighth, but far enough above Sauber in tenth to worry about being usurped.
Written by Alexandra.
Featured Image Credit: f1-fansite.com
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