It’s time to squeeze the last drops from your bottle of suntan lotion, as we’re heading to the Middle East for a sunny, season-defining double header, starting with this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.  

Twenty-two rounds down, two to go. It’s been a long season packed full of ups and downs, but we’re ready to give it everything we’ve got on an expansive, full-throttle circuit that allows us to really stretch our legs.  

To get you up to speed for this weekend’s race in Lusail, we’ve spoken with Lando, Oscar and Team Principal Andrea Stella, while also compiling a list of reasons why we love racing here, the circuit’s biggest challenge, and some suggestions of what to wear.  

“It’s great to return to Qatar for the final Sprint weekend of the year. 

“I’m excited to drive the MCL39 around the Lusail Circuit. It has some good opportunities for overtaking, so I’m ready to challenge for the win.” 

“This is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar, and I have great memories around this track, especially my first win in F1 in the 2023 Sprint.  

“It’s fast and flowing, has lots of medium and high-speed sections and is good for overtaking. I’m looking forward to both races and the chance to get on the front foot.” 

“What happened in Las Vegas won’t change our approach to this weekend. The mindset that brought us two Constructors’ titles and two drivers in the fight for the Championship stays the same: push to the limit and maximise our potential. Painful moments are part of our sport, but they also make you learn and become stronger. We’ve analysed everything, improved, and moved on. The team is united and fully focused on giving Lando and Oscar the best car for Qatar, a circuit that has technical characteristics that should suit our package. With two races to go, both deserve the chance to fight for the title.”

Why we love the Qatar Grand Prix

The Lusail International Circuit is unique on the F1 calendar in that it was designed for two wheels rather than four. Of the circuits we’ve recently raced on, Mugello would be the closest comparison, though unlike the classic Italian track, the Lusail International Circuit features wide, long straights, allowing for plenty of wheel-to-wheel battling.  

Primarily composed of medium- and high-speed turns, the 16-corner, 5.38km track, which has hosted the MotoGP World Championship since 2004, is fast, flowing, and full of overtaking opportunities.  

The first corner is doubtlessly the most opportune, requiring drivers to brake heavily following on from the 1km-long main straight (just under one-fifth of the track’s total length).  

Turn 6, a slow, right-hand hairpin that follows the ultra-fast Turn 5, provides the next chance, while overtaking is also possible at Turns 10 and 11, a fast section that features a high-speed right-hander followed by a high-speed left-hander.  

Turns 12 to 14 essentially form one long, sweeping corner. It’s pretty much flat-out and sets cars up for the circuit’s second DRS zone after Turn 15, which feeds into the second-slowest corner - and the track’s final one - Turn 16. 

What are the challenges?

Formula 1’s second race in Qatar rivalled Singapore for the title of that year’s most physically demanding Grand Prix. Following intense heat in the 2023 edition of the race, measures were taken to minimise the challenge drivers face in Qatar, as F1 pushed the race back to a later date in the year and shifted the session times to ensure cooler weather. However, it still remains among the hotter races on the calendar.  

Suffice to say, we’re very unlikely to see the same cold and wet conditions we experienced in Las Vegas last time out, with air temperature likely to be between 20 and 25 degrees during the four sessions.  

This will affect the drivers in the cockpit, who must combat the energy-sapping warmth while maintaining their concentration and reaction times. It also impacts the strategists, as the combination of heat, a smooth yet abrasive surface, and the circuit’s high-speed characteristics will lead to increased tyre degradation. 

Additionally, Lando and Oscar will need to make two pit stops each at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, with Pirelli restricting tyres to a maximum of 25 laps of the Lusail International Circuit. The 19-lap Sprint will be unaffected, but the 57-lap Grand Prix will require teams to change their tyres at least twice, presenting the team with a unique strategic challenge.

The season so far

With two rounds remaining, and the Constructors’ Championship wrapped up, Lando tops the Drivers’ standings with 390 points ahead of Oscar on 366 and Max Verstappen on 366.  

The fit

After a season of recommendations, we’d love to see what outfits you can come up with! We’re heading towards Black Friday, so grab yourself a discount on the Store and build your ultimate McLaren outfit. And once you’ve put together your look for the race weekend, don’t forget to show it off only social media.