2024 Qatar Grand Prix

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2024 Qatar Grand Prix
Race 23 of 24 in the 2024 Formula One World Championship
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Lusail International Circuit 2023.svg
Layout of the Lusail International Circuit
Race details [1]
Date 1 December 2024 (2024-12-01)
Official name Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024
Location Lusail International Circuit
Lusail, Qatar
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 5.419 km (3.367 miles)
Distance 57 laps, 308.611 km (191.762 miles)
Weather Clear
Attendance 154,973 [2]
Pole position
Driver Mercedes
Time 1:20.575
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes
Time 1:22.384 on lap 56 (lap record)
Podium
First Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
Second Ferrari
Third McLaren-Mercedes
Lap leaders
  • 2024 Qatar Grand Prix

The 2024 Qatar Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024) was a Formula One motor race held on 1 December 2024 at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar. It was the twenty-third and penultimate round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship and the sixth and final Grand Prix weekend of the season to utilise the sprint format.

Contents

Lando Norris of McLaren took pole position for the sprint event, and then ceded position to his teammate Oscar Piastri in the closing lap of the sprint. Piastri won his second sprint race ahead of Norris and George Russell of Mercedes; the latter took pole position for the main race after Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who set the fastest time in qualifying, was demoted a position due to driving slowly during qualifying. Despite the penalty, Verstappen went on to win the race ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Piastri. This was the last race to utilize the fastest lap point award after being reintroduced for the 2019 season.

Background

The event was held at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail for the third time in the circuit's history, across the weekend of 29 November – 1 December. [5] The Grand Prix was the twenty-third and penultimate round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship and the third running of the Qatar Grand Prix. [6] It was also the sixth and final Grand Prix in the season to utilise the sprint format and the second time overall that the Qatar Grand Prix will feature it. [7]

Championship standings before the race

Going into the weekend, Max Verstappen, who clinched the title at the previous Grand Prix, led the Drivers' Championship with 403 points, 63 points ahead of Lando Norris in second, and 84 ahead of Charles Leclerc in third. McLaren, holding 608 points, entered this round as the leader of the Constructors' Championship from Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, who were second and third with 584 and 555 points, respectively. [8]

Championship permutations

McLaren had an opportunity to secure its ninth World Constructors' Championship title at this event, the first since 1998. At the conclusion of this Grand Prix, there would have been one race left in the 2024 Formula One World Championship, with 44 points still available. McLaren could have won the title if they had outscored Ferrari by at least 20 points, and would not have been outscored by Red Bull Racing by more than 9. The title could not be decided at the end of the sprint. [9]

Entrants

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with two exceptions: [10] Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams from the Italian Grand Prix onwards, and Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB from the United States Grand Prix. [11] [12] [13]

The Grand Prix marked Esteban Ocon's last race start for Alpine, as he was required by the team to exit one race early so he could drive for Haas in the post-season test in anticipation for their 2025 campaign together. Reserve driver and 2025 signing Jack Doohan was called up to replace him for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. [14]

Tyre choices

Tyre supplier Pirelli brought the C1, C2, and C3 tyre compounds (the three hardest in their range) designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively, for teams to use at the event. [15]

Track changes

The DRS zone leading in to turn 1 was shortened by 100 metres (330 ft). [16]

Practice

The only free practice session was held on 29 November 2024, at 16:30 local time (UTC+3), [1] and was topped by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren and his teammate Oscar Piastri. [17]

Sprint qualifying

Sprint qualifying was held on 29 November 2024, at 20:30 local time (UTC+3), and determined the starting grid order for the sprint. [1]

Sprint qualifying classification

Pos.No.DriverConstructorQualifying timesSprint
grid
SQ1SQ2SQ3
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.3561:21.2311:21.0121
263 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Russell Mercedes 1:22.0211:21.4881:21.0752
381 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Oscar Piastri McLaren-Mercedes 1:22.2181:21.5481:21.1713
455 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 1:21.8381:21.8091:21.2814
516 Flag of Monaco.svg Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:22.1561:21.8181:21.3085
61 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 1:22.0331:21.7841:21.3156
744 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:22.1511:21.7341:21.4747
810 Flag of France.svg Pierre Gasly Alpine-Renault 1:22.5861:22.3521:21.9788
927 Flag of Germany.svg Nico Hülkenberg Haas-Ferrari 1:22.5691:22.3181:22.0889
1030 Flag of New Zealand.svg Liam Lawson RB-Honda RBPT 1:22.7051:22.3931:22.57710
1114 Flag of Spain.svg Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 1:22.4991:22.433N/A11
1223 Flag of Thailand.svg Alexander Albon Williams-Mercedes 1:22.7051:22.526N/A12
1377 Flag of Finland.svg Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber-Ferrari 1:22.5061:22.538N/A13
1418 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 1:22.5221:22.599N/A14
1520 Flag of Denmark.svg Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 1:22.5601:22.738N/A15
1611 Flag of Mexico.svg Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 1:22.718N/AN/APL 1
1722 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Tsunoda RB-Honda RBPT 1:22.722N/AN/A16
1831 Flag of France.svg Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 1:22.906N/AN/A17
1924 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber-Ferrari 1:22.948N/AN/A18
2043 Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Colapinto Williams-Mercedes 1:23.423N/AN/APL 1
107% time: 1:27.050
Source: [18] [19]

Notes

Sprint

The sprint was held on 30 November 2024, at 17:00 local time (UTC+3), and was run for 19 laps. [1]

Sprint report

Sergio Pérez and Franco Colapinto both started from the pit lane due to unauthorised changes to their cars in parc fermé. [20] Lando Norris led into turn 1, with Oscar Piastri narrowly ahead of George Russell. McLaren instructed Norris to keep Piastri within a second of him in order to give Piastri DRS to help him stay ahead of Russell. On lap 10, Charles Leclerc overtook Lewis Hamilton to take fifth place. Zhou Guanyu was forced to box to replace his graining soft tyres, while Pérez would also box for a new front wing. [21]

On the race’s last lap, despite McLaren’s wishing to keep the order, Norris slowed down to let Piastri take the chequered flag first, handing him victory. Norris later clarified he was "returning the favour", after Piastri allowed Norris to overtake him to take a sprint victory in the São Paulo Grand Prix. Russell completed the podium ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr., Leclerc, Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg and Max Verstappen, who was unable to catch Hülkenberg after being overtaken by him on the first lap. [21]

Sprint classification

Pos.No.DriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
181 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Oscar Piastri McLaren-Mercedes 1927:03.01038
24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 19+0.13617
363 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Russell Mercedes 19+0.41026
455 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 19+1.32645
516 Flag of Monaco.svg Charles Leclerc Ferrari 19+5.07354
644 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 19+5.65073
727 Flag of Germany.svg Nico Hülkenberg Haas-Ferrari 19+8.50892
81 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 19+10.36861
910 Flag of France.svg Pierre Gasly Alpine-Renault 19+14.5138
1020 Flag of Denmark.svg Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 19+15.48515
1114 Flag of Spain.svg Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 19+19.20411
1277 Flag of Finland.svg Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber-Ferrari 19+23.35113
1318 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 19+24.42114
1431 Flag of France.svg Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 19+30.37917
1523 Flag of Thailand.svg Alexander Albon Williams-Mercedes 19+33.06212
1630 Flag of New Zealand.svg Liam Lawson RB-Honda RBPT 19+34.35610
1722 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Tsunoda RB-Honda RBPT 19+35.10216
1843 Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Colapinto Williams-Mercedes 19+35.639PL
1924 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber-Ferrari 19+1:11.43618
2011 Flag of Mexico.svg Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 19+1:14.371PL
Fastest lap: Flag of Monaco.svg Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:23.923 (lap 18)
Source: [19] [22]

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on 30 November 2024, at 21:00 local time (UTC+3), and determined the starting grid order for the main race. [1]

Qualifying classification

Pos.No.DriverConstructorQualifying timesFinal
grid
Q1Q2Q3
11 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 1:21.5791:20.6871:20.5202 1
263 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Russell Mercedes 1:21.2411:21.0691:20.5751
34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.5781:20.9831:20.7723
481 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Oscar Piastri McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.8211:21.1211:20.8294
516 Flag of Monaco.svg Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:21.2781:21.0001:20.8525
644 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:21.6371:21.0951:21.0116
755 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 1:21.4471:21.1991:21.0417
814 Flag of Spain.svg Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 1:21.6081:21.2081:21.2518
911 Flag of Mexico.svg Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 1:21.6751:21.4251:21.4259
1020 Flag of Denmark.svg Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 1:21.8911:21.3871:21.50010
1110 Flag of France.svg Pierre Gasly Alpine-Renault 1:21.8431:21.437N/A11
1224 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber-Ferrari 1:22.1031:21.501N/A12
1377 Flag of Finland.svg Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber-Ferrari 1:21.9271:21.731N/A13
1422 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Tsunoda RB-Honda RBPT 1:22.3641:21.771N/A14
1518 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 1:22.0111:21.911N/A15
1623 Flag of Thailand.svg Alexander Albon Williams-Mercedes 1:22.390N/AN/A16
1730 Flag of New Zealand.svg Liam Lawson RB-Honda RBPT 1:22.411N/AN/A17
1827 Flag of Germany.svg Nico Hülkenberg Haas-Ferrari 1:22.442N/AN/A18
1943 Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Colapinto Williams-Mercedes 1:22.594N/AN/A19
2031 Flag of France.svg Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 1:22.714N/AN/A20
107% time: 1:26.927
Source: [23] [24]

Notes

Race

The race was held on 1 December 2024, at 19:00 local time (UTC+3), and was run 57 laps. [1]

Race report

Max Verstappen won the race having taken the lead from George Russell at the start, ahead of Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and Russell, who finished fourth despite a five-second penalty for a safety car infringement. Zhou Guanyu finished eighth to score his first points of the year for Sauber (and Sauber's only points finish of the season). Lando Norris was tenth – he was running second for much of the race before receiving a ten seconds stop and go penalty for ignoring yellow flags. Lewis Hamilton finished 12th after having received a drive through penalty for speeding in the pit lane. The race saw three safety cars. The first was for the lap 1 incident between Nico Hülkenberg, Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon, the second to clear debris from Alexander Albon's wing mirror, and the third after Hülkenberg and Sergio Pérez spun off following the end of the second safety car period. [26]

Despite Verstappen's victory, Red Bull dropped out of contention for the World Constructors' Championship that the team had won in the previous two seasons, leaving McLaren and Ferrari with a chance to claim the title in the season finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. [27]

Race classification

Pos.No.DriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
11 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 571:31:05.323225
216 Flag of Monaco.svg Charles Leclerc Ferrari 57+6.031518
381 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Oscar Piastri McLaren-Mercedes 57+6.819415
463 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Russell Mercedes 57+14.104 1 112
510 Flag of France.svg Pierre Gasly Alpine-Renault 57+16.7821110
655 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari 57+17.47678
714 Flag of Spain.svg Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 57+19.86786
824 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber-Ferrari 57+25.360124
920 Flag of Denmark.svg Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 57+32.177102
104 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes 57+35.76232 2
1177 Flag of Finland.svg Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber-Ferrari 57+50.24313
1244 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 57+56.1226
1322 Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Tsunoda RB-Honda RBPT 57+1:01.10014
1430 Flag of New Zealand.svg Liam Lawson RB-Honda RBPT 57+1:02.65617
1523 Flag of Thailand.svg Alexander Albon Williams-Mercedes 56+1 lap16
Ret27 Flag of Germany.svg Nico Hülkenberg Haas-Ferrari 39Spun off18
Ret11 Flag of Mexico.svg Sergio Pérez Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 38Clutch9
Ret18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 8Collision damage15
Ret31 Flag of France.svg Esteban Ocon Alpine-Renault 0Collision20
Ret43 Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Colapinto Williams-Mercedes 0Collision19
Fastest lap: Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes) – 1:22.384 (lap 56)
Source: [24] [28] [29] [30] [31]

Notes

Championship standings after the race

See also

Notes

  1. Max Verstappen set the fastest time in qualifying, but received a one-place grid penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly. [3] George Russell was promoted to pole position in his place. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – F1 Race". Formula 1. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  2. "Ranked: The Top Attended Formula 1 Races in 2024". F1 Destinations. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  3. "Verstappen hit with one-place grid penalty for Russell incident during qualifying for Qatar GP". Formula 1.com. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. "Russell promoted to pole after Verstappen had taken surprise P1 in Qatar by just 0.055s". Formula 1.com. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  5. "Lusail". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  6. "Grands Prix Qatar". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  7. "Formula 1 announces 2024 Sprint Calendar". Formula 1. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  8. "Las Vegas 2024 – Championship". Stats F1. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  9. "F1 | McLaren, Qatar can claim constructors' title after 25 years". F1GrandPrix.com. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  10. "2024 Qatar Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  11. "Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will race with the team for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season". Williams Racing . 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  12. "Ricciardo to leave RB with immediate effect as team get set for mid-season driver". Formula 1.com. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  13. "Lawson to replace Ricciardo at RB for remainder of the season". Formula 1.com. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  14. "Esteban Ocon to make early Alpine exit as Jack Doohan gets to start F1 career at Abu Dhabi GP". 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  15. "All compounds on track to end the season". Pirelli.com. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  16. "F1 | Qatar, sorpassi più difficili: accorciata l'unica zona DRS" (in Italian). Motorsport.com. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  17. "FP1: Leclerc leads Norris and Piastri during Qatar GP practice". Formula 1.com. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  18. "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Sprint Qualifying". Formula 1. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Sprint Grid". Formula 1. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  20. Noble, Jonathan (30 November 2024). "Perez and Colapinto to start Qatar sprint from pitlane". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. 1 2 "Piastri takes victory in Qatar Sprint as Norris reverses positions on last corner in McLaren one-two". Formula 1.com. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  22. "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Sprint". Formula 1. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  23. "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Qualifying". Formula 1. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Starting Grid". Formula 1. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  25. "Verstappen hit with one-place grid penalty for Russell incident during qualifying for Qatar GP". Formula 1.com. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  26. "Verstappen surges to victory ahead of Leclerc and Piastri in action-packed Qatar Grand Prix amid three Safety Cars". Formula 1.com. 1 December 2024.
  27. "What do McLaren need to do to win the 2024 constructors' championship in Abu Dhabi?". Formula 1.com. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  28. 1 2 "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Race Result". Formula 1. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 – Fastest Laps". Formula 1. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  30. "Qatar 2024 – Result". Stats F1. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  31. "Qatar GP spin as promising start ended in retirement". Formula1.com. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  32. 1 2 "Qatar 2024 – Championship". Stats F1. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
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2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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2025 Qatar Grand Prix