The F1 grid heads to Lusail International Circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate race weekend of the 2024 season.
As the grid heads from Las Vegas to Qatar, teams and drivers are preparing for one of the most physically demanding races of the season.
The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix will be the toughest race to date. Tire issues forced Pirelli and F1 to mandate a maximum of 18 laps per stint. The sport's official tire supplier discovered a gap in the sidewall after FP1. The “pyramid curb” was installed prior to last year's race. The short stints in which drivers give their best every 18 laps, combined with Qatar's high heat and humidity, create a situation where many drivers suffer from dehydration and heatstroke.
The most notable example, other than Logan Sargent's mid-race retirement due to heat exhaustion and influenza, was Esteban Ocon's vomiting in his helmet twice during the race.
This year's Qatar Grand Prix has had its calendar postponed and temperatures should be slightly cooler, but while Pirelli and the circuit's organizers have taken steps to alleviate last year's tire problems, teams are still looking ahead to a difficult weekend. Preparations are underway.
Including Haas.
In the team's pre-race preview, Nico Hulkenberg's performance coach Martin Poole spoke about how the team prepares its drivers and what they are doing in Qatar to keep their drivers performing at their best. We outlined the measures to be taken.
“Qatar is one of the most physically demanding circuits we visit,” Poole began. “Ambient temperatures are very hot, similar to last year, but we'll be back in a few weeks so hopefully it'll be a little cooler. It's still going to be a big physical challenge for the drivers. However, it is very difficult in the heat.
“It's very important to stay well hydrated, so use all the cooling methods available to us, such as traditional ice baths and cold towels, drink lots of cold drinks and avoid going outside. 'We're going to try to reduce the heat as much as possible,' Poole added. “Moving from Las Vegas to Qatar is difficult timing wise and there is no easy way, so I do my best to get into a good sleep pattern as soon as I arrive in Qatar.Nico is a good sleeper and will do whatever he needs. I'm good at finding time to take a nap, so I'm sure I'll be able to overcome this.”
Both Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen are looking forward to the challenge this weekend.
“Last year in Qatar was the first race where I felt it after coming back, and by the end of the race it was extremely hot and humid. This season, the races start in almost two months, so conditions will be better.” said Hulkenberg. “The expansive nature of this track makes it fun with great flow and rhythm, and it’s the last sprint of the season so we can take a second bite of the cherry.”
“Qatar is probably the toughest race of the year. It's super fast and very unique in the sense that it looks more like a bike track than an F1 track,” Magnussen said. “There's a very specific flow, you're never braking in a straight line, it's like you're sailing. It's the last sprint of the year so you always have to think about that and the time zone change is a challenge. Probably.
“Last year it was the other way around. We went from Qatar to America and to be honest, it's quite hard to coordinate so it's hard to understand everything. We can't find an away and it just takes time, so we You’ll be jet-lagged!”
Haas will need everyone in the team to give their best this weekend as they hope to inch closer to sixth place in the constructors' championship. At the moment, Haas has a one point advantage over Alpine in this battle and is just four points behind the VisaCash App RB F1 team.
