With the postponement and subsequent cancellation of the 2021 Australian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula 1 needed a replacement… enter Qatar.

Qatar hosted a round of the Formula 1 World Championship for the very first time in 2021 and has since become a permanent fixture on the calendar, signing a 10-year agreement.

Located on the outskirts of Qatar’s capital city, Doha, the 5.38-kilometre Losail International Circuit is better known for bikes than single-seaters, having hosted MotoGP World Championship rounds since 2004.

The circuit underwent renovations ahead of the race in 2023, which included resurfacing the track for the first time since it was opened in 2004. The circuit features a near-relentless sequence of 16 demanding, medium- to high-speed corners, which put the drivers and the Pirelli tyres to the test. Turns 12-14 form a triple-apex right-hander reminiscent of the infamous Turn 8 at Turkey’s Istanbul Park, albeit in the opposite direction, while the 1.068km main straight provides an opportunity for overtaking. 

Although Qualifying and the race both take place in the evening, heat can be a challenge, with the Qatar Grand Prix rivalling Singapore for the calendar's most physically demanding race. The temperatures, combined with the track’s smooth but abrasive nature, also increases the importance of tyre management, with rubber wearing much more quickly.