Despite McLaren’s disqualification due to technical violations in Las Vegas, Lando Norris still has a chance to challenge for the championship in the season’s final sprint race: the Qatar GP.
The highly anticipated Qatar GP will take place at Roselle International Circuit in the capital city of Doha. The circuit has undergone some tweaks, bringing its length to 5.380 kilometers, featuring one DRS zone and 16 corners. This sprint race kicks off on November 29, comprising 19 laps, followed by the main event on November 30, which will span 57 laps.
The Rosso Circuit features a 1,060-meter starting straight where DRS can be used, while other sections predominantly consist of short straights and medium-speed curves. The characteristics of the track are reminiscent of the Suzuka Circuit, with an average speed reaching up to 225 kph. This indicates that it’s a high-speed track with demanding technical requirements, putting significant stress on the tires, leading Pirelli to impose strict usage limits.
At the start of the Las Vegas GP, Lando Norris shone in the rain-soaked qualifying session, clinching pole position with style. However, during the early stages of the race, he became overly focused on defending against Max Verstappen, who had also started at the front, causing him to lose his race rhythm. Ultimately, he found himself embroiled in a tussle with George Russell, allowing Verstappen to turn the tables and secure victory, keeping his championship hopes alive.
With McLaren disqualified, the dynamics of the championship race have shifted. Although Verstappen is trailing by 24 points, the penalty against McLaren allows them to offset their retirement in Austria, with both Norris and Oscar Piastri reaching a total of 366 points.
The battle for the runner-up position in the championship has been impacted by McLaren’s disqualification, allowing the Mercedes team to unexpectedly widen the gap, even giving them a chance to secure second place overall. Meanwhile, Haas has made a comeback into the points zone, earning 3 points and rising to seventh place.
To tackle the tire load at the Losail Circuit, Pirelli will use C1 hard tires, C2 medium tires, and C3 soft tires, with the durability of the C1 hard tires being the main focus. According to the pre-race meeting, the usage limit for each set of tires is set at 25 laps, which means the race strategy will resemble the two-stop tactic seen at the 2023 Monaco GP.
After considering the peak performance of each tire compound, hard tires may emerge as the primary choice in the final race, while soft tires will play a crucial strategic role during qualifying and in the closing stages of the final.
Despite being disqualified in Las Vegas, Verstappen and Red Bull have reignited their hopes for the championship. Norris only needs to surpass Verstappen and Piastri, who are both 24 points behind, in the sprint race to secure the title, which keeps him in a favorable position.
One of the challenges Norris faces in the sprint race is the strategy of the Red Bull team, as Verstappen still has mileage left on his fifth power unit. Additionally, the pressure from the Mercedes team cannot be ignored; McLaren must be careful to protect their lead, as a single mistake could allow Verstappen not only to close the gap but possibly turn the tables altogether.
