Qatar Speed Trap: Who is the fastest of them all?

Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit is known as a high-energy fast and flowing circuit, with sequences of medium and high-speed long-radius corners linked by full-throttle blasts.

As such, the venue’s 5.4 km layout is perhaps similar to Zandvoort in terms of downforce levels.

But while the emphasis is on a car’s balance and set-up, strong velocity is still a good asset as the track’s main straight – and only straight – is the only place that provides drivers with the momentum they need to execute a good overtaking maneuver into Turn 1.

This was made clear once again in Saturday’s processional Sprint event in which the top three qualifiers raced unbothered, by others and among themselves.

Kimi Antonelli and George Russell’s presence at the top of the speed trap readings was unsurprising, given the low drag configuration chosen by Mercedes. But that option also means less downforce around Lusail’s fast sweeps, which likely cost Russell P3 in qualifying.

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is also among the top velocity contenders, but the reigning world champion’s relative underperformance in Saturday’s Sprint offered a clear indication of the mammoth task that lies ahead for the Dutchman in Sunday’s race to keep his championship chances alive.

Both McLarens clocked in among the lower tier cars in terms of straight-line speed in qualifying, but the MCL39’s aero efficiency in Qatar – supported by Piastri’s dominant Sprint win – more than makes up for its relative Vmax deficit.

Moving on to the strategy corner, Sunday’s event comes with a twist: nobody can lean on their tyres for long. Pirelli’s strict 25-lap cap on every compound – counting practice and qualifying mileage – forces teams into a mandatory two-stop showdown, transforming the race into a high-speed chess match.

The Two-Stop Puzzle

With 57 laps to cover, teams must log at least seven laps in the opening stint before pit strategy diverges. Pirelli’s simulations point to a clear headline option: medium-medium-soft, the fastest route with two evenly measured medium stints and a late soft-tyre sprint to the chequered flag.

The ideal pit windows fall between Laps 21–25 for the first stop and 40–46 for the second.

But nothing is guaranteed. Although drivers reported minimal graining in the 19-lap Sprint, front-left wear was unmistakably severe – a warning that Lusail’s sweeping corners will punish anyone who overcommits. Those wary of the medium tyre can switch the middle stint to the hard compound without compromising the overall structure.

The big unknown is the soft. With no one touching it in the Sprint, teams are flying blind on long-run performance. That opens the door to more adventurous plays – as Pirelli’s Mario Isola hints:

“We can’t exclude someone starting the race with the soft, doing a short stint to then do medium>medium.”

Conversely, those who prefer steadiness may roll the dice on a hard-tyre start to extend flexibility.

And all of it could be meaningless by the time Turn 1 arrives. With the field barreling into Lusail’s fast, narrow opening sequence, one chaotic opening lap may rip up the script before strategy even has time to matter.

Read also: Pirelli on high alert as sharp gravel poses tyre threat in Qatar

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