Components 1 heads to the penultimate spherical of the season – and the ultimate dash occasion – with the drivers’ title determined however the constructors’ crown nonetheless up for grabs.
Listed below are the speaking factors for the Qatar Grand Prix.
McLaren to hit again in title battle?
McLaren suffered a setback of their pursuit of the constructors’ championship in Las Vegas, the place closest rivals Ferrari out-scored them by 12 factors. However they could really feel they acquired off flippantly. Mercedes scored an sudden one-two, denying Ferrari a good greater factors haul on an uncompetitive weekend for the MCL38s.
The contenders anticipate the pendulum to swing the opposite means in Losail. “The situations and circuit in Qatar swimsuit our automotive properly,” stated McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella. Nevertheless Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jnr admitted “I’m a bit fearful about Qatar.”
“Flip one and switch three [in Las Vegas] is strictly the kind of nook you could have in Qatar. Fourth, fifth gear, lengthy mixed [steering inputs], which is strictly the place we’ve been struggling. And simply in that sector to the Merc, we had been three tenths off. So for those who hold including these corners up, it may very well be a tricky one for us in Qatar.”
If McLaren are the workforce to beat in Qatar, they may wrap the title up every week earlier than the finale. One-twos within the dash race and grand prix, plus the quickest lap, will assure them the title no matter what Ferrari do. In the event that they obtain it, McLaren can have their first championship for 26 years.
Mercedes’ unpredictable efficiency
Mercedes had been shocked by their efficiency on the chilly Las Vegas Strip Circuit with its excessive speeds and lack of corners. They anticipated to be stronger in Losail, which is a really totally different circuit, however one at which they carried out properly final yr.
Simply how aggressive Mercedes will probably be this weekend is subsequently one thing of a thriller even to them. Will the all-conquering W15 of final weekend seem, or the one which has most of the time vexed its drivers with unfathomable swings in efficiency?
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Grid development
Most F1 groups had been strongly against Components One Administration opening the grid as much as new opponents. However for the reason that final race got here phrase that the workforce originated by Andretti, now working below Common Motors’ Cadillac model, is poised to affix as an eleventh competitor in 2026, a decade for the reason that final time F1 grids boasted 22 automobiles.
How will groups react to the deal? How will they be recompensed for the potential lack of earnings of getting to share the prize fund with a brand new competitor? Anticipate this to dominate the off-track chatter.
Has F1 solved Losail tyre issues?
F1 will probably be desperate to keep away from a repeat of the issues which struck final yr’s Qatar Grand Prix. Pirelli found its tyres had been being broken by the kerbs on the resurfaced Losail Worldwide Circuit, main it and the collection to take drastic measures.
The observe limits had been altered to stop drivers working onto the troublesome kerbs and an unprecedented most stint size of 18 laps was imposed to cut back the potential for failures. On prime of that additional apply needed to be organized, because the dash occasion format solely allowed for a single hour of working.
Among the many steps taken to keep away from a repeat this yr are modifications to the kerbs and the addition of gravel strips, which have labored properly when launched at different tracks this yr.
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Who can take the warmth?
Drivers declared this essentially the most punishing occasion on the calendar final yr. The race was held seven weeks earlier within the season within the hotter situations of early October, and that plus the demanding observe structure pushed drivers to extremes. Esteban Ocon was sick throughout the race and Logan Sargeant retired as a consequence of exhaustion.
The later begin to this yr’s race, plus the addition of recent cooling units to the automobiles, ought to cut back the pressure on the drivers. However that is nonetheless prone to be the hardest problem they face all season.
Alonso reaches 400 begins
Fernando Alonso marked his four-hundredth look at a race weekend three rounds in the past in Mexico. Nevertheless the Qatar Grand Prix ought to see him make his four-hundredth begin.
Over to you
Will McLaren clinch the constructors’ championship this weekend? Who would be the workforce to beat in Losail? Have your say under.
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2024 Qatar Grand Prix
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