What are the stakes of the Qatar Grand Prix?

The battle for the constructors’ championship

The battle for the constructors’ championship title remains tighter than ever. Three teams arrive at the penultimate round of the season separated by only 53 points, and as it is a Sprint weekend in Qatar, a maximum of 59 points is up for grabs in the two races. McLaren, Ferrari, or Red Bull could take the lead when the checkered flag drops on Sunday.

But as the leader, only McLaren can win the title this weekend. Their current lead of 24 points should be increased by 21 points over Ferrari, so they can secure the championship. This is because Abu Dhabi is not a Sprint race, which means that a maximum of 44 points can be scored in the final race.

Ferrari reduced the gap by finishing ahead of the two McLarens in Las Vegas, but this track should suit the British team’s car better, thanks to its high-speed corners. We must also not exclude Mercedes from the fight for victory, after their dominance in Las Vegas, they are confident that their car will remain relatively suitable for the smooth layout of Qatar.

The battle for 6th place until the last lap

Not only is the race for the overall constructors’ title exciting, but the fight for sixth place in the championship is just as intense. What seemed to be a battle between two teams, Haas and Racing Bulls, was shaken up by Alpine’s double podium in Brazil, propelling them above the two teams to take sixth place.

This result did not match how the first part of the season had gone for the French team, but after recent progress thanks to impressive car development, the difference was made. In Las Vegas, they were back in the points race, after Pierre Gasly achieved an excellent third-place qualification, but these hopes faded when he was forced to retire early. Haas and Racing Bulls seized the opportunity to score points, with Nico Hülkenberg winning a tense battle against Yuki Tsunoda for eighth place.

This result allowed Haas to reclaim sixth place from Alpine in Las Vegas with a one-point lead over Alpine, while Racing Bulls is three points behind Alpine and four points behind Haas. Every point matters, and this battle seems to continue until the last rounds of the year.

A possibility of a title in F1 ACADEMY

There are other championships that could be decided in Qatar. The F1 ACADEMY returns for its penultimate round, with two races scheduled during the weekend on the Losail International Circuit. Although they will also race in Abu Dhabi, the driver’s championship seems to be able to be won now, with Abbi Pulling having a 95-point lead over Doriane Pin, in the standings.

Doriane Pin won the first race of the season, but Abbi Pulling finished second and then won seven of the following nine races. With 25 points awarded to the winner of each race, plus two points for pole position and one for the fastest lap, a total of 112 points remain to be distributed. If Pulling finishes in the top two in the first race in Qatar, she will be crowned champion, or if Pin does not win, the Briton will win the title, regardless of her own result.

Do not forget Formula 2

In Formula 2, things are a little more complex. Gabriel Bortoleto leads the championship with only 4.5 points ahead of Isack Hadjar, and although he could theoretically secure the title this weekend, it would require a relatively complex set of results. Hadjar is also looking to bounce back after a series of four races without scoring points, since his victory in the main race in Belgium in July.

Gabriel Bortoleto, who will race in F1 for Sauber, next season, could theoretically also be caught up by Paul Aron, Jak Crawford, Kimi Antonelli, and Victor Martins, although the latter three are clearly outsiders. Bortoleto has seen two potential rivals withdraw from the current season: Zane Maloney, who was in third place, will not finish the year as he has now joined Formula E, and Franco Colapinto, who is finishing the season at Williams.