1623 replies to this topic

[Risil]

You might say we're Qatting it fine with this one. That's all I've got! Qatar is a country in the Middle East which is famous for pumping natural gas out of the earth and selling it to boilers and the humans who operate those boilers. They have a poorly-attended MotoGP race and now they have a Formula One race too. I had a look on Wikipedia and apparently they've built grandstand(s) and will be able to accommodate 60,000 people, which is roughly the population of Hereford. The circuit is fast and featureless, which is better than slow and featureless, or slow with some tarmac painted blue and some boats up on breezeblocks. The only interesting thing that ever happened at this circuit was back in 2004 when Sete Gibernau ratted on Valentino Rossi for going out at night with a scooter to lay some rubber down on his grid slot, and Rossi responded by putting an actual curse on Gibernau. Good times! Hopefully the paranormal stays away this weekend.

 

Practice starts at 2.30pm UK time, and qualifying is on later that day (Friday) at 6pm. Then we have something called a sprint shootout (me neither) and then the real sprint race at 6.30pm on Saturday. Finally the race (remember them!) is on at 6pm.

 

There is some possibility that Max Verstappen will win the world championship this weekend, so have your orange fireworks and unhelpful comments about how everyone else dropped the ball this year at the ready. If McLaren win instead you can still use the orange fireworks and criticize Mercedes and Ferrari and Sergio Perez, so go nuts.

 

Comment below!

[FLB]

Did you know Geneva has been moved to Qatar this week? Prime Minister inaugurates Geneva International Motor Show Qatar 2023 | The Peninsula Qatar

[Beri]

Am I the only one thinking "Oh, a Grand Prix this weekend? Hmm.. let's see if I want to see it.."
This season somehow feels very saturated with races. Perhaps because the championship is already somewhat decided. Perhaps because there are so many races. Perhaps because it's a Sprint Race. But fact the matter to me is that I don't even know if the circuit runs clock- or anti-clockwise. That's how much I am interested in this weekends race.

[ARTGP]

Did you know Geneva has been moved to Qatar this week? Prime Minister inaugurates Geneva International Motor Show Qatar 2023 | The Peninsula Qatar

 

 there really is nothing money can't buy...

Edited by ARTGP, 05 October 2023 - 22:26.

[Afterburner]

Paranormal? Qatar you talking about? Halloween’s a few weeks away yet.

[ARTGP]

This week's edition of Pirelli says:

 

Edited by ARTGP, 05 October 2023 - 23:12.

[Anja]

Quite possibly the least interesting GP on the calendar, I'm so glad it's probably never going to go away.

 

Of course the obvious irony would be if it actually produces a good race, I wouldn't even be surprised    

Edited by Anja, 05 October 2023 - 22:51.

[JimmyClark]

I love how it's a title deciding weekend potentially and it's taken this long for a build up to be posted. I guess it shows the level of enthusiasm for this circuit and the sprints...

On the other hand, I think it could be quite interesting. It's going to be bloody hot - 40c in the day, 30c at night. FP tomorrow will be pretty meaningless, then they will go straight into qualifying. The circuit is resurfaced and data is from the old generation of cars. I can see Red Bull possibly getting tripped up.

Also I saw something online about "concrete blocks" being used as a natural deterrent for track limits. I have no idea what this means, but it sounds intriguing...

[ANF]

Even the race director has forgot the 2021 grand prix.

24) Changes to the Circuit
New circuit.

[F1 Mike]

I couldn't remember the circuit layout. I looked it up. Oh, that.
Sprint race weekend is it?
What's the point of those again, could someone remind me??
At least it'll be nice weather for it

[Primo]

I love how it's a title deciding weekend potentially and it's taken this long for a build up to be posted. I guess it shows the level of enthusiasm for this circuit and the sprints...

 

Autosport went deep into Thursday without having a single F1 related story among the highlights on the start page.

[AncientLurker]

Also I saw something online about "concrete blocks" being used as a natural deterrent for track limits. I have no idea what this means, but it sounds intriguing...

I’m all for cinder blocks on the outside of the turns and half-buried tyres on the inside for kerbs. Anything that makes the tracks a little less sanitized.

[MKSixer]

I think I will watch the new episode of Loki 9 or 10 times rather than this race.

[romaincrouton]

I dunno I’m quite looking forward to seeing Max Verstappen clinch the title at the sprint race. Poor guy F1 will have managed to stuff up all three of his title weekends. I’m hoping they also dress him up in the same weird robe they put on Messi at the World Cup and we can all watch awkwardly as he talks about the actual race being tomorrow.

[romaincrouton]

Also my race prediction is that Norris will get a controversial first win after Max fails a post race breathalyser…. All jokes aside, it may have gotten a little boring at times this year but we’ve just witnessed one of the greatest driver and team performances (if not the greatest ) of all time. That in itself is really special and we really can’t begrudge that kind of excellence. So let’s enjoy this race for what it actually is, a token Grand Prix that represents some of the worst aspects of this sport! Yay!

Edited by romaincrouton, 06 October 2023 - 04:04.

[LolaB0860]

Even the race director has forgot the 2021 grand prix.

24) Changes to the Circuit
New circuit.

On this clickbait article they "explain" why it's supposedly a new circuit and how amazingly complex the challenge + Sprint weekend will be to the teams
https://www.motorspo...aches/10528741/

Yeah right, after 10 minutes of practice (or simulator run) they'll be "it's fine whatever"

Edited by LolaB0860, 06 October 2023 - 05:01.

[Heyli]

Also havent been really looking forward to this one, but it can actually be quite an interesting weekend.

 

A relatively new circuit, which is barely used, in a sprint format with hot temperatures and with definite high levels of track evolution. Lots of opportunities for teams to get it wrong.

[wj_gibson]

The 2021 race was quite good, no? 

[sheSgoTthElooK]

I don’t know. I knew this weekend is F1 and I was hyper to some extent. My short term memory is rather poor, so my curious self jumped in here to check where the GP takes place. Then I read it and guess what. Felt nothing. So, I decided to read the opener and thank you for that, it put a lil smile on my face. Right after that, I just realized that I forgot something important. That’s too much drama in the morning. If the GP is as exciting, we can be satisfied.

Edited by sheSgoTthElooK, 06 October 2023 - 06:13.

[sportyskells]

At least this time I can watch qualifying at brothers without muting anything then it's the normal sister way for the other 2 parts of the weekend

[le chat noir]

Is this the one that max did that mega quali lap on in 21 only to bin it on the last corner?

[JimmyClark]

Is this the one that max did that mega quali lap on in 21 only to bin it on the last corner?

No that was Saudi

[Frood]

Is this the one that max did that mega quali lap on in 21 only to bin it on the last corner?

No, it's the one where Max got a penalty due to a yellow flag offence, and Christian Horner got a ticking off from the FIA for the "rogue marshal" comment.

[le chat noir]

Oh. Well it’s not the one where Russell gets a go in a fast car, or the one that can’t be finished under safety car, so what’s interesting here?

[le chat noir]

No, it's the one where Max got a penalty due to a yellow flag offence, and Christian Horner got a ticking off from the FIA for the "rogue marshal" comment.

Oh yes. Exciting stuff then!

[Heyli]

No, it's the one where Max got a penalty due to a yellow flag offence, and Christian Horner got a ticking off from the FIA for the "rogue marshal" comment.

And then had a monster start to go back to P3 immediately if I remember correctly. 

[Frood]

And then had a monster start to go back to P3 immediately if I remember correctly.

Yes. Assuming you mean Max, of course.

If it was Christian Horner then I assume Red Bull must have really been in a bind on the driver front. My memory is hazy.

[IrvTheSwerve]

I couldn't remember the track at all so watched a couple of onboards from '21. It's actually quite a cool track, almost an amalgamation of Mugello and Portimão, without the elevation changes (and miles of run-off). 

 

I can't remember if it was an issue in '21, but it looks like track limits are going to be a nightmare. From the onboards I've seen, cars are going right up to the white line nearly every other corner. 

[IrvTheSwerve]

Also, my usual moan about sprint weekends...

 

Going to have to rush home to watch qually tonight (having just remembered that it's 'proper' qualifying for Sunday)...then having to be around twice tomorrow (especially as it is likely a WDC-winning day). 

 

All so we can watch it again on Sunday with the WDC having been decided.

 

Ah, that's better. 

[southernstars]

After the relaxing times of last weekend, it's back to yuck. 4:00am for qualifying, midnight for sprint qualifying, 4:30am for the sprint race and 4:00am on a Monday morning for the race itself.

[d246]

The only interesting thing that ever happened at this circuit was back in 2004 when Sete Gibernau ratted on Valentino Rossi for going out at night with a scooter to lay some rubber down on his grid slot, and Rossi responded by putting an actual curse on Gibernau. Good times! Hopefully the paranormal stays away this weekend.

 

 

 

Thanks for the uplifting opener. I know it must have taken some amount of motivation....

I wasn't aware of the Rossi curse but will probably be researching it after lap 2 of the Sprint Race.

[Anja]

Is this the first sprint on a track with artificial lights? I would've thought it's a perfect opportunity to differentiate the sprint from the main race by having it earlier in the day, under daylight. Such an obvious thing to do.

Edited by Anja, 06 October 2023 - 07:34.

[Primo]

Interesting read about Quatar's political power.

https://orientxxi.in...b-emirates,5086

[Amin]

Seem to remember enjoying this circuit in 2021.

[PayasYouRace]

I actually quite like this circuit, as a circuit. Kinda wish it was somewhere that’s not Qatar. It’s super fun to drive as it’s fast and flowing. Reminds me of Jacarepagua.

Yeah they missed a trick by not doing the sprint race in the day and the Grand Prix at night. They could have switched the format up and done them both on Sunday, even.

Even with such a long schedule and though it hasn’t been that long since the last one, I’ve been really needing my F1 fix for this weekend.

[jensfan09]

Quite possibly the least interesting GP on the calendar, I'm so glad it's probably never going to go away.

 

Of course the obvious irony would be if it actually produces a good race, I wouldn't even be surprised    

They have a 10 year contract, so not going anywhere, and it's moving to the start of the year as well!

[Ruudbackus]

There are 6 race weekends left to go this year, six! And were into october already. It's just way to much. And next year we'll get another go at 24 races (plus 6 sprints). I'm not particulary looking forward to this one. But i'll just watch it anyway, sometimes when  you least expect it the race is surprisingly good.

[jensfan09]

Even the race director has forgot the 2021 grand prix.

24) Changes to the Circuit
New circuit.

The track has been completely resurfaced with new kerbs and fencing as well.

 

I believe the track length has been changed slightly too.

[jensfan09]

There are 6 race weekends left to go this year, six! And were into october already. It's just way to much. And next year we'll get another go at 24 races (plus 6 sprints). I'm not particulary looking forward to this one. But i'll just watch it anyway, sometimes when  you least expect it the race is surprisingly good.

As a McLaren fan, I'm glad there is still 6 races to go, more chance for the team to catch Aston Martin in the constructors!

[Ali623]

@tgruener

 

Heavy winds today at the track. Sand is blowing all over the place. Will be interesting how this affects running in the only practice session before quali. 

 

[KWSN - DSM]

There is a distinct lag of rain prediction percentages in the opening post.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Must admit I'm feeling strangely 'meh' about this weekend. Maybe cos I'm in pain, maybe cos it's another race in the desert with likely not many people there and a track with 17km of run off at each corner with a dull lack of colour and interesting things to catch your eye, maybe it's cos it's a sprint weekend, maybe cos the title could be won on a Saturday which to me seems wrong (even if it does occur in a race, rather than by getting a point for pole position).

But yeah, I'm just a bit 'meh' about this weekend. Kind of like 'I'll watch it but I'm not really that fussed, probably won't be that exciting anyway'

[Skelly1927]

Must admit I'm feeling strangely 'meh' about this weekend. Maybe cos I'm in pain, maybe cos it's another race in the desert with likely not many people there and a track with 17km of run off at each corner with a dull lack of colour and interesting things to catch your eye, maybe it's cos it's a sprint weekend, maybe cos the title could be won on a Saturday which to me seems wrong (even if it does occur in a race, rather than by getting a point for pole position).

But yeah, I'm just a bit 'meh' about this weekend. Kind of like 'I'll watch it but I'm not really that fussed, probably won't be that exciting anyway'

Too many races per year will do this to you. I've cancelled NowTV.  F1's extreme homogeneity and technical crackdown has been a real buzz kill. I don't mind domination either by the way. It's everything else surrounding F1.

 

[JimmyClark]

There's still nothing like the buzz of a grand Prix start.

But indeed I don't spend the whole week before a race getting excited anymore.

[LolaB0860]

Here's the full Saturday schedule with all of the support races included:

Sprint Shootout ™
((((((((3 Hours 16 minute gap)))))))
Sprint ™

Here's also the full Sunday schedule:

Qatar Grand Prix at 8PM

That's it. Such wonderous display of racing

Seem to remember enjoying this circuit in 2021.

I don't remember anything about it other than Alonso scoring podium for Renault

Edited by LolaB0860, 06 October 2023 - 10:02.

[Lee Nicolle]

 

@tgruener

 

Heavy winds today at the track. Sand is blowing all over the place. Will be interesting how this affects running in the only practice session before quali. 

 

 

So lets hope the filtration is good on the engines. And how do they vent the electric motors?? That much sand will eat them up quickly I suspect.

[Risil]

I think Qatar 2021 was fine, but it was a calm race during that epic run-in. The circuit is fine. It just seems like a way to pad the calendar and keep the bean counters at Liberty happy.

[JimmyClark]

Here's the full Saturday schedule with all of the support races included:

Sprint Shootout ™
((((((((3 Hours 16 minute gap)))))))
Sprint ™

Here's also the full Sunday schedule:

Qatar Grand Prix at 8PM

That's it. Such wonderous display of racing

I don't remember anything about it other than Alonso scoring podium for Renault

 

Wow I didn't realise it was that bad. There won't be any other series to 'clean' the track then. 

 

I feel for the fans - stuck in a hot, dusty desert for hours on end with only F1 to watch and nothing in between and £15 beers. 

[Anja]

Too many races per year will do this to you. I've cancelled NowTV.  F1's extreme homogeneity and technical crackdown has been a real buzz kill. I don't mind domination either by the way. It's everything else surrounding F1.

 

 

Yeah, 20+ races a year wouldn't be such a problem if we had some proper variety. More different circuits, race formats (sprint doesn't count, it doesn't really change anything other than adding more of the same) - making each race more of its own special event rather than just another round. As it is there's maybe a handful of races during a season which can be considered a unique challenge and the rest is very cookie-cutter by design.

Edited by Anja, 06 October 2023 - 10:10.

[Risil]

More ovals!