It’s the final three races of the 2021 Formula One world championship and with the title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton still raging, the series makes its debut at one of two new tracks. Tune in on The Roar from 12:50am (AEST) for live blog coverage and updates
The Losail Circuit in Qatar is the first stop in consecutive events that appear on the Formula One schedule for the first time. The 5.3 km layout has been the home of MotoGP in the Middle East for many years but lends itself to F1 on this occasion.
The grand prix will be comprised of 57 laps, in what is largely a similar track to Sakhir in Bahrain. Though overtaking at Losail in a Formula One car may prove more difficult than it would’ve in Bahrain.
The difference between Verstappen and Hamilton in the standings is 14 points after the Briton’s sensational win in São Paulo last time out. Since then, Mercedes have had their ‘right to review’ dismissed by the FIA – chasing another look into Verstappen running Hamilton off-track on Lap 48 at Turn 4.
Politicking aside, the Silver Arrows have had the upper hand this weekend and that was seen with the pole position lap from Hamilton – which was 0.455 seconds quicker than his rival in the Red Bull.
Both will share the front row, though diverge on strategy with Hamilton starting on the medium tyre and Verstappen on the soft compound. Theoretically, the Dutchman will have more grip off the line, though the demands of Losail may see the softest tyre suffer quicker.
Off the second row, Valtteri Bottas heads up an excellent Pierre Gasly who continues to spearhead AlphaTauri’s close points battle with Alpine for fifth in the constructor’s championship. Fernando Alonso put in a season-best qualifying performance for fifth and will no doubt put pressure on the Frenchman.
McLaren qualified ahead of Ferrari as well for the first time in recent races, as Lando Norris in sixth looks to recoup the points lost to the Scuderia in the fight for third in the constructor’s standings.
However, both teammates to Norris and Carlos Sainz are out of position, starting outside the top ten along with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez – who is also out of position.
It is expected that a two-stop strategy will play out during the grand prix and with the lack of overtaking expected, the strategic calls will be much more crucial in gaining track position.
With the upturn in pace for Mercedes, can Hamilton romp away again from Verstappen or can Red Bull rein in their rivals without causing further controversy?
Tune in on The Roar from 12:50am (AEST) for live blog coverage and updates of Formula One’s inaugural Qatar Grand Prix.
Lights out: 1:00 am (AEST)
Venue: Losail International Circuit, Qatar
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 4. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 5. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 6. Lando Norris (McLaren), 7. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 8. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 10. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 11. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 13. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 14. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 15. George Russell (Williams), 16. Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), 17. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 18. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), 19. Mick Schumacher (Haas), 20. Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
andrew
Roar Rookie
Ricciardo's down the order again. I thought after his win at Monza he might have turned the corner. Hamilton or Max as champion for 2021, look out for the next race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well that is the end of that triple header and the Qatar Grand Prix. An interesting race of strategy and survival for the one-stoppers, but there is still an 8-point gap between Verstappen and Hamilton at the top of the standings and only 5-points in the constructor's standings. A short break before the penultimate round of the season in Saudi Arabia in a fortnight's time, so until then - thank you for joining me on The Roar for this live blog and we will be back for the first ever Grand Prix in Jeddah. Ciao.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 546.5 - Mercedes AMG 541.5 - Red Bull Racing Honda 297.5 - Ferrari 258 - McLaren Mercedes 137 - Alpine 112 - Scuderia AlphaTauri 77 -- Aston Martin Racing 23 -- Williams Mercedes 11 -- Alfa Romeo Racing 0 --- Haas Ferrari
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 351.5 - Max Verstappen 343.5 - Lewis Hamilton 203 - Valtteri Bottas 190 - Sergio Perez 153 - Lando Norris 152 - Charles Leclerc 145.5 - Carlos Sainz 105 - Daniel Ricciardo 92 -- Pierre Gasly 77 -- Fernando Alonso 60 -- Esteban Ocon 43 -- Sebastian Vettel 34 -- Lance Stroll 20 -- Yuki Tsunoda 16 -- George Russell 10 -- Kimi Räikkönen 7 --- Nicholas Latifi 1 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 0 --- Mick Schumacher 0 --- Robert Kubica 0 --- Nikita Mazepin
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT It was a faultless drive for Lewis Hamilton from pole position to secure victory at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix, as championship leader Max Verstappen had a race of damage limitation to finish second. Verstappen was penalised pre-race for failing to slow down under double-waved yellow flags during Q3 yesterday, dropping five grid positions to seventh. However, he made inroads immediately on the first to be up into fourth. Before AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly switched positions with the championship leader to let him into second. A poor start for Valtteri Bottas saw him drop to eleventh, while Sergio Perez who qualified eleventh had made up ground in the opening stint also. In what was going to be race of two stops, Verstappen came in rather early on Lap 18 and switched to the hard compound. Hamilton followed suit on the next lap to protect his advantage. Starting from third, Fernando Alonso took his soft tyres to Lap 24 before making his switch to the hard tyre. While Perez was left bemused by his early stop and then being left in traffic. Bottas was into third at halfway distance, having not yet made a pit-stop. Though his race was turned upside down on Lap 34 with a front-left puncture seeing him limp into the pits for new tyres and a new front-wing. This put other one-stoppers on edge, as both Williams drivers suffered the same fate. McLaren almost did with Lando Norris, but were quick to act and pit the Briton – even if it cost him a top five finish. Lap 42 saw Verstappen in for his second stop, as Hamilton followed on the proceeding lap to hold their incumbent positions. Perez pitted as well and then was left with the task of rounding up the one-stopping cars ahead of him in seventh. Verstappen claimed fastest lap honours prior to a Virtual Safety Car on Lap 55 to recover the Williams of Nicholas Latifi, while also pitting again for another set of soft tyres in case Hamilton retook the fastest lap. The neutralisation of the race did aid Alonso in holding onto third, as Perez’s charge was halted in fourth ahead of one-stopping Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll and the Ferraris. Both Aston Martins scoring thanks to nailing the one-stopper for Stroll in sixth and Sebastian Vettel in tenth, while McLaren scraped two points with Norris after their puncture scare.
Simoc
Guest
Thanks for the commentary. Huge race for Alonso and Alpine. Strange that Alpine and McLaren are up and down like yoyos whereas Alpha Tauri are reasonably consistent, despite having a poor day today in the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
PODIUM INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Jenson Button HAMILTON - "It was really straightforward and really lonely at the front." "We needed those points today and I can't wait to watch the replay." "I'm really grateful for these points and this is a good step for the next two." VERSTAPPEN - "Luckily we had quite a good start and to get that fastest lap was nice." "It was good and this track was really fun to drive." "I feel good. It's going to be a tight battle to the end." ALONSO - "Seven years and finally we got it!" "With Checo it was very close at the end." "We planned one stop from the beginning, but it was quite well executed from the team."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 57-LAP QATAR GRAND PRIX 1 L. Hamilton 2 M. Verstappen (Fastest Lap) 3 F. Alonso 4 S. Perez 5 E. Ocon 6 L. Stroll 7 C. Sainz 8 C. Leclerc 9 L. Norris 10 S. Vettel 11 P. Gasly 12 D. Ricciardo 13 Y. Tsunoda 14 K. Räikkönen 15 A. Giovinazzi 16 M. Schumacher 17 G. Russell 18 N. Mazepin RET N. Latifi RET V. Bottas
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE QATAR GRAND PRIX! Max Verstappen takes the fastest lap of the race and second to keep the championship lead. And Fernando Alonso claims his first podium in third since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 57/57: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR ENDS FINAL LAP
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 56/57: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR Hamilton won't have the opportunity now to take back the fastest lap, with Max on the soft tyres now. This VSC does give Alonso a sigh of relief too and those 32 lap old hard tyres.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 55/57: VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED This will be to allow the marshals to recover the Williams of Latifi in the run off. Verstappen brought in for a third stop under the VSC as well for softs.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 55/57: Norris moves up into ninth with that pass on Vettel. Verstappen sets the fastest lap of the race with a 1:24.031.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 54/57: Ocon beginning to form a train behind him in fifth, with Stroll and the Ferraris behind. This quartet all on worn hard compound tyres.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 53/57: Another puncture for a Williams! It is Latifi on this occasion who has to limp home with the same front-left. What does this mean for Alonso? He's 28 laps into his stint on the hard tyre, so can he hang on to third.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 52/57: Russell will get the softs put on and sent back into the race down in eighteenth. Disappointing for Norris still, now in tenth and looking like it'll be another single point finish.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 51/57: Bottas brings his Mercedes in to retire the car, while Russell is limping around with a puncture as well.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 50/57: Norris made to pit then and gets out of the way of Perez. Medium tyres go onto the McLaren and they must have seen a puncture as well coming so to avoid what happened to Bottas, they had to make that pit-stop.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 50/57: HAM VER ALO NOR PER OCO STR SAI LEC VET GAS BOT RIC TSU RUS RÄI LAT GIO MSC MAZ the order of the field.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 49/57: Perez now 8 seconds behind Norris and a total of 15 seconds behind the third placed Alonso.