The Qatar Grand Prix was supposed to be a quiet one, with Lando Norris sliding his way into the Drivers’ Championship, and Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen challenging for the second and third spots. However, after a McLaren double disqualification, the championship has been blown wide open heading into the penultimate race weekend of the season.

Qatar is going to be an interesting race. Not only is this nearly a guaranteed two-stopper, due to the tyre limits imposed by Pirelli, but also considering the track’s design, this is going to be a fascinating one to watch.

Here’s how the race weekend shapes up:

Losail Circuit Guide

• Circuit Length: 5.419 km
• Number of Laps: 57 laps
• Race Distance: 308.611 kms
• Lap Record: Lando Norris – 1:22.384 (2024)
• Track Type: Circuit
• DRS Zones: 1 zone located after turn 15

Qatar Grand Prix: Key Storylines

Qatar GP tyre rules

The track in Qatar is not only swelteringly hot, but the turns are sharp and introduce an excessive amount of wear on the tyres. As a result, Pirelli, in conjunction with the FIA and Formula 1, has said that the maximum lap for any set of tyres cannot exceed 25 laps.

This means teams are virtually guaranteed to run a two-stop race this weekend. The 57-lap race means that teams will have to change tyres at least twice before the end of the race. Barring a safety car or any other race control, this will add a ton of intrigue and strategy, as tyre usage and pit stops add more uncertainty.

Tire Strategy

Given that teams have to run at least two tyre compounds in the race, the question will be how the teams run their medium compound tyres. In a perfect world, teams will want to run two sets of softs as long as possible and use the mediums in the middle to make up the difference.

Optimally, running each set of softs for 25 laps, then having a short stint on mediums of seven laps at the front end would make the most sense. However, driver performance and how the race goes will dictate how teams actually go on each set.

Red Bull driver lineup to be announced

Every team has finalized their driver lineup, except for the two Red Bull teams. However, the end is near. Expect Red Bull to announce who will drive alongside Max Verstappen, as well as who will take the two spots at Racing Bulls.

One spot is likely to be Isack Hadjar’s, but what happens to Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda will be interesting to watch. Tsunoda has really struggled in the Red Bull seat, with the driver having just 20 points through 22 races- simply not enough for a top team like Red Bull.

There have been issues with team orders and the well-founded curse of the Red Bull second seat, but Red Bull needs someone who can support Verstappen and pick up points if they want to get back into the Constructors’ Championship fight next season against Mercedes and McLaren.

Qatar Grand Prix Predictions

Sprint race winner: The sprint king has always been Max Verstappen, and with him and Norris tied with two sprints each this season, let’s say Verstappen wins the Sprint in Qatar.

Pole Position: Given how fast he has been at this track and how good his car has been in qualifying, expect Lando Norris to take Pole at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Race Winner: However, the driver best off the start has consistently been Max Verstappen. With his title hopes hinging on winning this race, expect him to finish first.

Bold Prediction: Not only does Yuki Tsunoda again finish outside of the points, but he gets cut completely from Red Bull and Racing Bulls. The team brings in two rookie drivers to take the two Racing Bulls seats, and gives Hadjar the second seat at Red Bull.

Qatar Grand Prix Schedule & How to Watch

Race Weekend Schedule

Session	Local Time	EST	MST
Free Practice 1	November 28, 2025	8:30 am	6:30 am
Sprint Qualifying	November 28, 2025	12:30 pm	10:30 am
Sprint	November 29, 2025	9:00 am	7:00 am
Qualifying	November 29, 2025	9:00 am	7:00 am
Race	November 30, 2025	11:00 am	9:00 am

F1 Championship Standings before the Qatar Grand Prix

Drivers’ Championship (Top 5)

Position	Driver	Team	Points
1	Lando Norris	McLaren	390
2	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	366
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	366
4	George Russell	Mercedes	294
5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	226

Constructors’ Championship (Top 5)

Position	Team	Points
1	McLaren	756
2	Mercedes	431
3	Red Bull	391
4	Ferrari	378
5	Williams	121

Qatar Grand Prix: Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the Qatar Grand Prix start?

The Qatar Grand Prix race starts at 7:00 pm local time on Sunday, November 30th, 2025. For viewers in the East, that’s 11:00 am, while UK fans can watch at 4:00 pm GMT. Qualifying takes place on Saturday, November 29th, 2025.

What is the weather forecast for the Qatar Grand Prix?

It’s going to be a warm and sunny weekend in Doha. The weather is expected to be between 20-29 degrees Celsius all weekend, with track temperatures in the low 20s on race day.

How many laps is the Qatar Grand Prix?

The race consists of 57 laps of the 5.419 km circuit, totalling 308.611 km. The lap record at Lusail is held by Lando Norris (2024) with a time of 1:22.384 set in 2024.

Who has won the most races at the Qatar Grand Prix?

Only two drivers have ever won the Qatar Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, who has won it twice. Verstappen has also won it in both of the last two years.

What tyre compounds will be used at the Qatar Grand Prix?

Pirelli has nominated the C1, C2, and C3 compound tyres for the weekend. Given how fast this track is, this tyre setup makes a lot of sense.

What makes the Lusail circuit unique?

Lusail is one of the most unforgiving tracks on the circuit. Not only is it very windy, but the curbs around the corner are harsh on the tyres. Add in the high temperature in Doha, and you have a very tough race ahead. This is one of the only races with a maximum tyre usage limit. Drivers can only go 25 laps on a set of tyres before being forced to change them.

Closing Thoughts

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