Qatar Grand Prix: Weekend Recap

The 2024 Qatar Grand Prix weekend unfolded amidst significant news for Formula 1, as General Motors has officially been approved to join the grid in 2026 under the Cadillac name. Partnering with TWG Global and leveraging Andretti Global's resources in the United States and Silverstone, the American automaker plans to debut as a customer team before developing its own power units later in the decade. With Mario Andretti, a former F1 champion, serving on the team’s board, Cadillac’s entry reflects Formula 1’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the U.S. and marks an exciting addition to the sport.

Practice Session

Charles Leclerc topped the sole practice session for the sprint weekend, outpacing McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Ferrari driver clocked an impressive 1m21.953s, becoming the only driver to dip under the 1m22s barrier. His lap placed him 0.425s clear of Norris, with Piastri just behind in third.

The session began with teams focusing on the medium tires, which helped clean up the dusty Losail circuit. During the opening 45 minutes, the two Ferraris emerged as early leaders. Running on hard tires, Carlos Sainz and Leclerc traded fast laps, with Sainz clocking a 1m23.068s to edge out Leclerc's 1m23.419s.

The final 15 minutes saw drivers switch to soft tires for qualifying preparation. Sainz initially led the charge with a 1m22.982s, but Leclerc responded with a stunning 1m22.242s, leaving his teammate and rivals behind.

McLaren put up a strong fight, with Piastri coming within two-tenths of Leclerc before Norris narrowly edged out his teammate to secure second. However, the McLarens couldn’t match Leclerc’s pace on a second attempt, while the Monegasque driver improved further, cementing his lead with a 1m21.953s.

Sainz ended the session fourth, followed by an impressive Yuki Tsunoda in fifth. Valtteri Bottas, aiming to avoid a scoreless season, delivered a standout lap to take sixth, just ahead of Lance Stroll. The Finnish driver is in talks with Mercedes to rejoin the team in a reserve driver role, following the exit of current reserve driver Mick Schumacher.

George Russell, Alex Albon, and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top 10, while newly crowned four-time champion Max Verstappen could only manage 11th. Verstappen’s session was hindered by a trip through the gravel at Turn 15 on his final lap attempt.

Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, and Liam Lawson followed Verstappen, while Pierre Gasly—testing Alpine’s new front wing design—fell down the order after an early run among the leaders.

Leclerc’s dominant practice performance sets Ferrari up as a strong contender for the weekend, though McLaren’s consistent pace and the high-speed nature of the Lusail track suggest they’ll remain the team to beat. Meanwhile, Verstappen and Red Bull have work to do after a lackluster start in Qatar.

Sprint Qualifying

Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, delivering a standout performance for McLaren. The Briton's blistering first run in SQ3 secured the top spot, holding off a late charge from Las Vegas GP winner George Russell.

SQ1

The opening session saw Sergio Perez suffer another early exit, missing the SQ2 cut by just 0.013 seconds to Williams’ Alex Albon. Perez narrowly outpaced Yuki Tsunoda, who fell short in the final sector. Esteban Ocon was also eliminated, as his rivals improved late in the session, with Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, and Nico Hulkenberg escaping the bottom five.

Zhou Guanyu and Franco Colapinto rounded out the order, failing to find the pace needed to progress.

SQ2

Pierre Gasly's late effort pushed him into the top 10, knocking out Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon in the final moments. Albon’s promising lap was undone by a minor twitch at Turn 15, leaving him 0.012 seconds ahead of Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas, who had shown strong pace in the first two sectors but faltered in the final corners. Stroll and Kevin Magnussen also failed to advance, leaving a competitive grid for the final shootout.

SQ3

Norris wasted no time in SQ3, setting a commanding 1m21.012s on his first flying lap. Opting against a preparation lap, the McLaren driver achieved his time immediately but ended his session early after grazing the gravel at Turn 2 on his second attempt.

George Russell came close to challenging Norris, finishing just 0.063 seconds behind on his final run to secure second. Oscar Piastri initially looked poised to take pole with a purple first sector, but time lost in later sectors relegated him to third.

Carlos Sainz delivered a single late lap to claim fourth, overcoming earlier struggles that required him to take three preparation laps. He edged out teammate Charles Leclerc, who rounded out the top five.

With Norris starting on sprint pole and McLaren showing strong form, the stage is set for a thrilling battle in the Qatar GP sprint race. George Russell and Oscar Piastri remain key threats, while Ferrari's Sainz and Leclerc could disrupt the fight at the front.

Sprint Race

Oscar Piastri triumphed in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, thanks to an extraordinary act of teamwork from his McLaren counterpart, Lando Norris. The tactical brilliance displayed by the team not only secured a 1-2 finish but also strengthened McLaren's chances of clinching the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.

Starting from pole position, Norris expertly controlled the race from the outset, showcasing the composure and speed that have defined his season. His lightning-fast getaway left second-placed George Russell fending off a determined Piastri. The Australian executed a bold move around the outside at Turn 1 and claimed the inside line for Turn 2, securing second place early in the opening lap.

With Norris pulling ahead, Piastri faced relentless pressure from Russell, particularly when the Mercedes driver gained DRS. The fierce battle was briefly alleviated as Norris strategically slowed down just enough to keep Piastri within DRS range, effectively arming him with the tools to repel Russell’s advances.

As the laps ticked by, Norris reported struggles with his front tires, asking the team if he should continue supporting Piastri. McLaren gave a resounding "yes," underscoring their focus on teamwork over individual glory. This approach paid dividends as the duo maintained their positions despite Russell’s persistent efforts to disrupt the McLaren stronghold.

Piastri came under severe pressure during the final laps when he lost access to DRS, leaving him vulnerable to Russell’s late attack. However, the young Australian held firm, defending with precision to secure his track position. In a dramatic conclusion, Norris, well aware of the championship stakes, slowed on the final straight to allow Piastri to take the sprint victory—a gesture of gratitude for Piastri’s sacrifice in Brazil earlier this season.

Russell, who finished third, had to fend off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz throughout the race. Despite staying within striking distance, Sainz found himself trapped in the DRS train and unable to challenge for a podium position. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc delivered a standout moment by overtaking Lewis Hamilton for fifth. Using DRS to gain an advantage at Turn 1, Leclerc held his ground through Turn 2 to complete a spectacular move that underscored his racecraft.

Nico Hulkenberg secured seventh for Haas, a vital result for the midfield team while reigning champion Max Verstappen endured a difficult sprint. Struggling with oversteer on the opening lap, Verstappen dropped positions early and could only recover to the final points-paying position at P8, unable to mount a challenge on Hulkenberg. Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top ten, with Magnussen converting his 15th-place start into a remarkable 10th-place finish.

Zhou Guanyu and Sergio Perez were the only drivers to pit during the sprint race, with both opting for alternate strategies that failed to yield significant gains. Perez, starting from the pit lane after a difficult qualifying, compounded his struggles with a slow getaway and an early stop to replace his front wing. He found himself stuck at the back for most of the race, unable to climb through the field.

McLaren’s dominance in Qatar demonstrated the depth of their strategic planning and the unity within the team. Norris’ decision to cede the win to Piastri highlighted the selfless mindset that has brought McLaren to the brink of a championship victory. As the season approaches its conclusion, the team’s cohesive approach and exceptional driver lineup continue to underscore their resurgence as a force in Formula 1.

For Oscar Piastri, the win solidifies his growing reputation as a future championship contender. For McLaren, this 1-2 finish represents another giant leap toward a long-awaited Constructors’ Championship. With their tactical mastery and team-first ethos, McLaren remains poised to close out the season in commanding style.

Qualifying

Max Verstappen claimed his first pole position since June at the Lusail circuit, only to lose it hours later due to a one-place grid penalty for impeding George Russell. The Losail circuit saw a thrilling and chaotic qualifying session unfold in three distinct acts: Q1, Q2, and Q3. Here’s how it played out.

Q1

The opening qualifying session was marked by intense competition at the back of the grid. As drivers scrambled to secure a top-15 spot, Alex Albon fell victim to a late charge from Yuki Tsunoda. Despite failing to set a personal best in any sector, Tsunoda managed to edge past the cutoff, dropping Albon into the elimination zone.

Liam Lawson narrowly missed advancing, outpacing Nico Hulkenberg but falling short of 15th. Hulkenberg’s session was hampered by Haas struggling to optimize its soft tires, prompting an apology from his race engineer over the radio. Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon rounded out the bottom five, both struggling to find competitive pace around the Losail circuit.

Q2

The intermediate session saw a fierce battle for the final Q3 spots. Pierre Gasly initially appeared poised to advance but was displaced by Fernando Alonso’s stunning late lap. Alonso, who aborted his initial attempt, delivered a strong time to jump into the provisional top 10, briefly relegating Lewis Hamilton to the danger zone.

Hamilton, however, quickly responded with a lap good enough for fifth, securing his spot in Q3. This late flurry left Gasly out by just 0.012 seconds, narrowly behind Sergio Perez, who claimed the final Q3 slot. Zhou Guanyu impressed with a strong lap for 12th, outpacing teammate Valtteri Bottas by two-tenths. Lance Stroll and Tsunoda also failed to make the cut, their teams continuing to struggle with pace.

Q3

The final session delivered high drama as Verstappen clinched the fastest time of 1:20.520, edging Russell by just 0.055 seconds. George Russell had initially set the pace with a 1:20.575, but he faltered in his second attempt, losing time in the second and third sectors. This opened the door for Verstappen, who delivered a flawless lap to take provisional pole.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured third and fourth, respectively, though McLaren’s pace slightly dipped compared to Friday's sessions. Charles Leclerc claimed fifth, while Hamilton settled for sixth, splitting the two Ferraris. Alonso placed eighth, with Sergio Perez overcoming early challenges to qualify ninth, just ahead of Kevin Magnussen.

The stewards summoned Verstappen for driving unnecessarily slowly on a build-up lap, leading to an incident where Russell had to brake hard to avoid contact at Turn 12. After reviewing the situation, the stewards handed Verstappen a one-place grid penalty, citing his failure to adhere to race director instructions and his positioning on the racing line.

This penalty elevated Russell to pole position, with Verstappen starting alongside him in second for Sunday’s race. The stewards acknowledged mitigating factors, including the fact that neither driver was on a flying lap, reducing the penalty to a single grid spot.

Verstappen expressed frustration, describing the penalty as excessive. "We were all just driving slowly," he said. "I wouldn’t know what I could have done differently." Russell, on the other hand, called the incident “super dangerous” and supported the stewards’ decision.

With Russell on pole and Verstappen starting second, the stage is set for an electrifying Qatar Grand Prix. McLaren’s strong showing in the sprint and qualifying ensures they’ll remain a threat, while Ferrari and Mercedes aim to capitalize on any mistakes at the front.

The battle lines are drawn, and the Losail circuit promises yet another thrilling chapter in this year’s Formula 1 season.

Race

Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, showcasing his dominance despite a chaotic race disrupted by three safety cars and dramatic penalties. This marked Verstappen’s ninth win of the 2024 season, overcoming early challenges and benefiting from a critical penalty imposed on Lando Norris.

Starting from second after a one-place grid penalty, Verstappen outpaced polesitter George Russell off the line. Lando Norris, also with a strong start, challenged Verstappen into the first corner but was forced to settle behind the Red Bull leader.

The opening laps saw Verstappen steadily manage the race, despite an early safety car triggered by a collision between Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto, and Esteban Ocon. On the lap-five restart, Verstappen quickly pulled out of Norris' DRS range, building a slim but consistent gap.

As the race approached its halfway point, simultaneous punctures for Sainz and Hamilton brought out the second safety car. This spurred pit stops for the leading drivers, with Verstappen and Norris switching to hard tires. The race took a pivotal turn when debris from Alex Albon's dislodged wing mirror, struck by Valtteri Bottas, littered the start-finish straight. This was the incident that caused the punctures for Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton and initially led to yellow flags. Most confusingly, the FIA waited 4 laps after the wing mirror incident to trigger the safety car for the martials to clear the debris, after the Mercedes and Ferrari had been punctured at top speed down the main straight.

While Verstappen slowed accordingly, Norris was later penalized for failing to reduce speed under yellow flags. This infringement earned him a devastating 10-second stop-and-go penalty, derailing his podium ambitions.

On the restart, Norris briefly threatened Verstappen but couldn’t capitalize. Soon after, the third safety car was deployed when Hulkenberg spun into the gravel at Turn 9. By this point, Norris received news of his penalty, effectively removing him from contention for the win.

Freed from any significant challenges, Verstappen maintained his composure during the final phase of the race, crossing the line 6.1 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. This marked his second victory in three races, solidifying his return to form.

Leclerc delivered a strong drive, fending off Oscar Piastri to claim second place. Piastri, who had briefly led Leclerc before the second safety car, lost track position due to an ill-timed pit stop. Despite his efforts, the McLaren driver settled for third, unable to use DRS effectively to close the gap.

George Russell finished fourth despite receiving a five-second penalty for a safety car infringement. Pierre Gasly defended brilliantly in the closing stages to secure fifth for Alpine, holding off Carlos Sainz, who recovered from his earlier puncture to finish sixth.

Fernando Alonso’s strategic gamble during the safety car periods paid dividends. By switching to hard tires early and later capitalizing on pitlane directives, the Aston Martin driver clinched seventh place.

The most incredible feat of the evening was that of Zhou Guanyu who delivered a standout performance, claiming P8 and earning Sauber’s first points (4 of them) of the season as well as winning the Driver of the Day award. A hugely relieving result for the Sauber team, who have had the most difficult season, running pointless until this penultimate race of the season. Kevin Magnussen finished ninth after multiple tussles with Alex Albon, while Norris clawed back to 10th, salvaging a single point after his penalty.

The Qatar GP at Losail provided no shortage of drama, with Verstappen demonstrating his skill and resilience amid the chaos. While Norris’ penalty reshaped the podium dynamics, Verstappen's flawless execution underscored why he remains a dominant force in Formula 1.