Formula 1 heads to the penultimate round of the season – and the final sprint event – with the drivers’ title decided but the constructors’ crown still up for grabs.
Here are the talking points for the Qatar Grand Prix.
McLaren to hit back in title fight?
McLaren suffered a setback in their pursuit of the constructors’ championship in Las Vegas, where closest rivals Ferrari out-scored them by 12 points. But they may feel they got off lightly. Mercedes scored an unexpected one-two, denying Ferrari an even bigger points haul on an uncompetitive weekend for the MCL38s.The contenders expect the pendulum to swing the other way in Losail. “The conditions and circuit in Qatar suit our car well,” said McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. However Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jnr admitted “I’m a bit worried about Qatar.”
“Turn one and turn three [in Las Vegas] is exactly the type of corner you have in Qatar. Fourth, fifth gear, long combined [steering inputs], which is exactly where we’ve been struggling. And just in that sector to the Merc, we were three tenths off. So if you keep adding those corners up, it could be a tough one for us in Qatar.”
Mercedes’ unpredictable performance
Mercedes were surprised by their performance on the cold Las Vegas Strip Circuit with its high speeds and lack of corners. They expected to be stronger in Losail, which is a very different circuit, but one at which they performed well last year.
Just how competitive Mercedes will be this weekend is therefore something of a mystery even to them. Will the all-conquering W15 of last weekend appear, or the one which has more often than not vexed its drivers with unfathomable swings in performance?
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Grid growth
Most F1 teams were strongly opposed to Formula One Management opening the grid up to new competitors. But since the last race came word that the team originated by Andretti, now operating under General Motors’ Cadillac brand, is poised to join as an 11th competitor in 2026, a decade since the last time F1 grids boasted 22 cars.
How will teams react to the deal? How will they be recompensed for the potential loss of earnings of having to share the prize fund with a new competitor? Expect this to dominate the off-track chatter.
Has F1 solved Losail tyre problems?
The track limits were altered to prevent drivers running onto the troublesome kerbs and an unprecedented maximum stint length of 18 laps was imposed to reduce the possibility of failures. On top of that extra practice had to be arranged, as the sprint event format only allowed for a single hour of running.
Among the steps taken to avoid a repeat this year are changes to the kerbs and the addition of gravel strips, which have worked well when introduced at other tracks this year.
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Who can take the heat?
The later start to this year’s race, plus the addition of new cooling devices to the cars, should reduce the strain on the drivers. But this is still likely to be the toughest challenge they face all season.
Alonso reaches 400 starts
Fernando Alonso marked his 400th appearance at a race weekend three rounds ago in Mexico. However the Qatar Grand Prix should see him make his 400th start.
Over to you
Will McLaren clinch the constructors’ championship this weekend? Who will be the team to beat in Losail? Have your say below.
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2024 Qatar Grand Prix
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Jere (@jerejj)
28th November 2024, 8:08
McLaren to hit back in title fight? – Yes & the WCC is ultimately their to lose.
Mercedes’ unpredictable performance – I doubt they’ll be similarly competitive, but not impossible either.
Grid growth – Good news, assuming the GM-Cadillac team won’t be like the early-2010s trio.
Has F1 solved Losail tyre problems? – I’m positive, although while kerb alterations will help the situation, gravel pieces will only help track limit enforcement rather than anything else.
Who can take the heat? – Not ‘should’ but will, given the 2021 edition, all Abu Dhabi GPs, as well as the 2020 Bahrain rounds, & temperatures weren’t even the issue, but humidity, given low-30s are nothing new, & some European rounds in 2018-2020 even had mid-30s. Additionally, the cooling device is still only voluntary.
Qatar GP may have been the most challenging physically last year, but as of this year, the Singapore GP holds that status once again.
Alonso reaches 400 starts – Indeed unless he suffers a DNS or is forced to withdraw for anything.
Will McLaren clinch the constructors’ championship this weekend? – Unlikely.
Who will be the team to beat in Losail? – McLaren presumably will be the initial favorite.
SPArtacus
28th November 2024, 8:26
The main talking point is whether MBS will use Qatar or AD to arrest the GPDA and subject them to “questioning” over its plot to overthrowing their rightful monarch.
Jere (@jerejj)
28th November 2024, 9:43
Valid point
Leo B
28th November 2024, 17:17
If Cadillac are in for 2026, it would be cool if they could somehow get their 1959 Fleetwood model past the F1 regs. Length was over 20 feet, and 7 feet wide. Superb.
SPArtacus
29th November 2024, 5:01
I wonder which would understeer more, the Fleetwood or this generation of F1 cars. It’d probably be close.
Leo B
29th November 2024, 13:29
:))