Qatar · The Endurance Race

Qatar Grand Prix

Lusail International Circuit

5.419 km

Lap length

57

Laps

16

Corners

1

DRS zones

Lusail International Circuit, Lusail
Photo: Box Repsol (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons
City
Lusail
First GP
2021
Race distance
308.611 km
Lap record
1:24.319 · Lando Norris (2023)
Round 21 Qatar Grand Prix Qatar

A purpose-built MotoGP track running F1

Lusail was built in 2004 for MotoGP and adapted for F1 in 2021. The flowing high-speed sweepers of the second sector make it one of the most physically demanding circuits on the calendar — sustained 4G corner loadings for over 60 laps.

Why it matters

The 2023 race was so physically punishing that the FIA introduced new mandatory cooling requirements for cockpits the following season. Multiple drivers reportedly came close to fainting; some required medical treatment after the race. Qatar has settled into a regular slot near the end of the year — usually at night, under floodlights — to avoid the desert heat.

What to watch for

  • The high-speed sweepers (Turns 12–15) — sustained corner loading; you can see drivers fighting steering wheel weight on close-up shots.
  • Tyre management — high lateral load destroys tyres; the FIA mandates a hard tyre stint for safety.
  • Sandstorms — desert weather is unpredictable. A 2024 practice session was paused for sand on the track.