2024 F1 Qatar Grand Prix Preview: 2nd round from the end of the season

A few days after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, when Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen was named the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion, the team made an 8,000-mile journey to the Persian Gulf, particularly to Qatar.

The Qatar Grand Prix will first be held in 2021 as an alternative to the cancelled Australian Grand Prix and will be a permanent fixture on the calendar from 2023. The race took place at the Rosail International Circuit on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar's capital, and this year, in addition to the main race as last year, the stand・alone Su

Rosail International Circuit features a 3.43・mile course that prevents sand from piling onto the surface. It is surrounded by artificial grass rings designed to protect the environment. Originally designed for motorcycle racing, especially MotoGP, as a result, the track has the property of flowing at high speed, which makes it difficult to pass due to high speed.

There are a total of 16 corners (10 right-handed, 6 left-handed), the main straight is almost 1 lap 5/1, and the end of this straight is the only DRS zone. The surface is one of the most abrasive on the calendar, with last year's organizers obliging drivers to pit every 18 laps due to excessive tire wear, but that is not expected to be the case this year. Due to the harsh conditions, Pirelli has named its hardest compounds, C1, C2, and C3.

Even in last year's race, it was almost impossible to handle because of the very hot weather. But this year's race will take place after two months, when temperatures are much lower. The current forecast calls for highs of about 75°F.

Both the Sprint race and the qualifying session will be held on Saturday, while the main race will be held on Sunday. The sprint race is a stand-alone point race that takes place before the qualifying session of the main race on Sunday. It has its own qualifying session, which takes place on Friday after a single practice session.

Verstappen was named the 2024 World Champion, but the fight to be 2nd in the driver's standings and the top honors in the Constructors' standings is very alive.

Entering the weekend, Verstappen's point tally in the 2024 Drivers' Championship is 403 points. McLaren's Rand Norris is 340 points in 2nd place, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is 319 points in 3rd place. In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren leads by 608 points. Ferrari is 584 points in 2nd place, and Red Bull is 555 points in 3rd place.