27 - 29 November 2026
Qatar Grand Prix ROUND 22
Lusail International Circuit
- FP1Fri 27 Nov13:3017:30
- FP2Fri 27 Nov17:0018:00
- FP3Sat 28 Nov14:3015:30
- QualifyingSat 28 Nov18:0019:00
- RaceSun 29 Nov16:0018:00
SECTORS
TURNS
FIRST GP
2021
LAPS
57
CIRCUIT LENGTH
5.419
DISTANCE
308.611
Lights, camera… action!
With the postponement and subsequent cancellation of the 2021 Australian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula 1 needed a replacement… enter Qatar.
Qatar hosted a round of the Formula 1 World Championship for the very first time in 2021 and has since become a permanent fixture on the calendar, signing an additional 10-year agreement from 2023.
Located on the outskirts of Qatar’s capital city, Doha, the 5.38-kilometre Losail International Circuit is better known for bikes than single-seaters, having hosted MotoGP World Championship rounds since 2004.
The circuit underwent renovations ahead of the race in 2023, which included resurfacing the track for the first time since it was opened in 2004. The circuit features a near-relentless sequence of 16 demanding, medium- to high-speed corners, which put the drivers and the Pirelli tyres to the test. Turns 12-14 form a triple-apex right-hander reminiscent of the infamous Turn 8 at Turkey’s Istanbul Park, albeit in the opposite direction, while the 1.068km main straight provides an opportunity for overtaking.
Although Qualifying and the race both take place in the evening, heat can be a challenge, with the Qatar Grand Prix rivalling Singapore for the calendar's most physically demanding race. The temperatures, combined with the track’s smooth but abrasive nature, also increases the importance of tyre management, with rubber wearing much more quickly.
While we are yet to win in Qatar, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have taken a combined four podiums there in the last three years.
Let’s Doha this! 🇶🇦
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In Qatar, it’s the heat that makes it so physically demanding. The temperatures, combined with the track’s smooth but abrasive nature, also increases the importance of tyre management, with rubber wearing much more quickly.
Despite being designed with motorcycles in mind, the 16-corner, 5.38km circuit actually offers several overtaking opportunities, thanks to a combination of wide, long straights, heavy braking zones, and more technical corners.
As is often the case, Turn 1 provides the track’s best overtaking opportunity. The first corner is a heavy braking zone that directly follows a 1km-long straight, allowing for a pass down the inside. Turn 6 is a similarly good place to attempt a move, following on from the back straight. As well as being key corners for lining up moves later down the line, Turns 12 and 4 can also offer up overtaking opportunities, in the right conditions.
Qatar might be one of the smallest countries in the Arabian Gulf, but it has a lot to offer. The weather is almost guaranteed to be nice, with the country seeing less than 100mm of rain per year. It’s ideal for the more adventurous among you, with scuba diving, skydiving, kayaking and ATV riding all common tourist activities.
The country also has an excellent culinary selection, with a large range of foods from around the world available. If you want something a little more local, then we’d recommend Majboos, a slow-cooked rice dish served with either lamb or chicken, which is known as Qatar’s national dish. Saloona, a classic Arabic stew, is another local favourite.
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The Lusail International Circuit has hosted a round of the MotoGP World Championship since 2004.
Looking back on 2025
