57 laps / 5.419km / 16 corners / lap record 1:24.319 (Verstappen 2023)

The Lusail International Circuit, approximately 30km north of the capital city Doha was built in 2004, with the first F1 event hosted in 2021. The inaugural race was held in response to the COVID pandemic and replaced the Australian GP.

This will be only the third F1 race in Qatar as it was not held in 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup, and the Lusail International Circuit is on a 10 year contract.

The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix was the site where Max Verstappen claimed his third F1 Drivers Championship. This feat occurred during the Saturday sprint race making it the first time in 40 years where a driver did not win the championship on a Sunday.

With two races (and one sprint race) left to go it is coming down to the wire to see which team will claim the Constructors Championship.

McLaren (608) currently leads Ferrari (584) by only 24 points. Red Bull is a bit further back at 555 points and would need a miraculous return of from Checo, plus bad outings from Ferrari over the next two races to claim back 2nd place.

Charles Leclerc doesn’t seem to think Qatar will go in the favour of Ferrari and it could mean going into Abu Dhabi with McLaren the heavy favourite to take the title of best team.

After years of absence in global motorsports’ top tier, GM is joining F1 with Cadillac as the lead brand. Cadillac will become F1’s 11th team, supported by extensive resources and facilities in both the U.S. and Europe.

Cadillac’s entry originated from a partnership with Andretti Global. However, leadership changes and the involvement of TWG Global shifted control to GM, making Cadillac the primary brand.

Cadillac met F1’s high standards by committing to develop its own engines and fully integrate into the sport by the end of the decade. This addressed initial concerns about value and competitiveness.

Initially, Cadillac will rely on engines from another manufacturer but aims to develop its own by the end of the decade. Initial reports are they will be a customer team of Ferrari.

The team will operate from a hub near Silverstone, U.K., while leveraging resources in Germany and the U.S. Cadillac plans to hire top engineers and potentially debut with at least one American driver.

Who will be behind the wheel when they take the grid in 2026?

Given its U.S. roots, Cadillac is expected to prioritize at least one American driver. IndyCar star Colton Herta, whose previous F1 debut plans fell through, is a frontrunner due to his experience and marketability.

The team may adopt a strategy blending young talent with seasoned drivers. This approach could provide competitive balance and facilitate development during its inaugural seasons.

The FIA is facing a leadership crisis, with four senior figures exiting in just over two weeks. Among them are Tim Mayer, a senior steward for 15 years. Mayer, who was dismissed via text from one of FIA President Ben Sulayem’s assistants, criticized the management, saying the FIA is "running out of people to do those jobs."

Recent Firings:

- Niels Wittich, former F1 race director

- Paolo Basarri, FIA compliance officer

- Janette Tan, a rising talent set to lead F2 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi

Mayer described Tan as "the epitome of the type of person we want working for the FIA." He also highlighted the pressure placed on Rui Marques, the newly appointed race director for both F1 and F2, a dual role not undertaken since Charlie Whiting over a decade ago.

Mayer claims he was removed due to FIA President Ben Sulayem taking personal offense at his involvement in a legal appeal over a fine issued to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for a track invasion during the US Grand Prix. Mayer argued his dismissal stemmed from "hurt feelings," calling it a baffling overreaction.

The FIA has seen the departure of several other key figures in recent months, including sporting director Tim Nielsen, CEO Natalie Robyn, and communications director Luke Skipper. Mayer criticized the organization’s reliance on volunteers, contrasting this with its handling of dismissals: “To fire someone who has made a significant contribution by text does not speak well of management.”

The FIA issued a statement defending its race director support system and highlighting a high-performance program to identify future leaders. However, the exodus raises questions about stability and long-term strategy within motorsport’s governing body.

I think everyone can agree that F1 drivers have a true need for speed and chasing higher G-forces.

First it was Charles Leclerc and now Lewis Hamilton has taken to the sky in partnership with Mercedes watch sponsor IWC to complete what they callwd astronaut training.

After Max Verstappen clinched his fourth championship in Las Vegas, Red Bull Racing is cautious about its chances for 2025, citing growing competition and the need for significant improvements.

Red Bull expects tougher competition in 2025 from McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. "It will be a fight for the full year," said technical director Pierre Wache. highlight that they need to improve their car to be more suited across a variety of tracks.

Despite dominance, Red Bull admits much of its success stemmed from rivals’ shortcomings rather than groundbreaking car advancements.

Wache’s cautious outlook fuels Red Bull’s relentless drive for innovation. "If you have confidence in this business, you are dead," he remarked.