Hamilton won the first F1 race at Losail International Circuit in 2021, Alonso scored his first podium at the track in over seven years last time out and seven drivers are yet to race here in F1. Here’s everything you need to know about each driver’s history at the Qatar Grand Prix!
🇳🇱 Max VERSTAPPEN
Max Verstappen set the second fastest time in qualifying for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix but was demoted to seventh on the grid after ignoring a yellow flag in Q3. Nevertheless, he made the positions back up in the race and set the fastest lap on his way to a second place finish.
🇲🇽 Sergio PEREZ
Sergio Perez was one of only two drivers on the 2021 grid (the other being Nikita Mazepin) to have had previous racing experience at Losail International Circuit. Perez raced at the circuit in the GP2 Asia Series in 2009, winning the Sprint Race.
At the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, Perez was eliminated in Q2, narrowly missing out on Q3 by qualifying in 11th place. The Mexican made up seven positions over the course of the race, finishinf just off the podium in fourth place.
🇲🇨 Charles LECLERC
A cracked chassis prevented Charles Leclerc from progressing any further than Q2 on Saturday at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. He qualified 13th for the race and made progress on Sunday to pick up a handful of points with an eighth place finish.
🇪🇸 Carlos SAINZ
While his team-mate was unable to reach Q3, Carlos Sainz qualified in seventh place for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. That later became fifth on the grid thanks to grid penalties for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas. Sainz lost two positions over the course of the race and finished in seventh.
🇬🇧 Lewis HAMILTON
Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix never really looked in doubt. Leading the field away from pole position, Hamilton led all 57 laps of the race. His victory here made him the first driver to have won at 30 different circuits in his Formula 1 career.
🇬🇧 George RUSSELL
With Williams in 2021, George Russell made it through to Q2 and qualified in 15th place. He finished the race only 17th following a late race puncture.
🇫🇷 Esteban OCON
Esteban Ocon qualified four positions behind Alpine team-mate Fernando Alonso at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. Reaching Q3, Ocon qualified ninth. He made up four positions by making the most of a one-stop strategy to finish in fifth place.
🇫🇷 Pierre GASLY
Pierre Gasly recorded the first front row start of his Formula 1 career at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. After setting the fourth fastest qualifying time, Gasly moved up the grid thanks to penalties for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas. The AlphaTauri did not have good race pace, however, and the Frenchman was unable to finish in the points. He came home 11th.
🇬🇧 Lando NORRIS
Qualifying in sixth place – way ahead of his team-mate – Lando Norris was bumped up to fourth on the final grid following penalties for other drivers. A well-executed stint on soft tyres put him in contention for a top five finish, until a puncture undid his hard work and he finished ninth.
🇦🇺 Oscar PIASTRI
Oscar Piastri has not previously raced at Losail International Circuit but has driven Alpine’s 2021 car at the circuit during a two-day test in May 2022.
🇫🇮 Valtteri BOTTAS
A puncture cost Valtteri Bottas a likely podium finish with Mercedes at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. Bottas qualified third for the race but was dropped down three positions after being deemed to have ignored a yellow flag in Q3. He lost positions at the start and ran in 11th before making a number of moves to get back into podium contention. His one-stop strategy failed and he ultimately retired from the race after picking up his puncture.
🇨🇳 ZHOU Guanyu
This will be Zhou Guanyu’s first outing at the Qatar Grand Prix.
🇪🇸 Fernando ALONSO
Fernando Alonso recorded his first podium finish in over seven years at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix – a new record for the most number of races between two podium finishes. Alonso qualified in fifth place for the race but moved up to third on the grid as a result of grid penalties.
The Spaniard passed front row starter Pierre Gasly at the start of the race and despite faster cars starting behind him, and increasing pressure from Sergio Perez towards the end of the race, Alonso held on to finish in the top three.
🇨🇦 Lance STROLL
While Aston Martin team-mate Sebastian Vettel reached Q3 at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, Lance Stroll was eliminated in Q2 and qualified in 12th place. Stroll was able to make up positions through the race – including on his team-mate – and finished the race an impressive sixth. It was his best result of the 2021 season.
🇩🇰 Kevin MAGNUSSEN
Kevin Magnussen was not on the grid when Formula 1 last raced in Qatar in 2021.
🇩🇪 Nico HULKENBERG
Nico Hulkenberg has previously won at Losail International Circuit. While this will be his first Qatar Grand Prix appearance, Hulkenberg raced at the track in the GP2 Asia Series in 2009. He won the Feature Race and finished on the podium in the Sprint Race. Hulkenberg set the lap record at the track in qualifying for the race. It stood for 12 years, until being broken over the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix weekend.
🇯🇵 Yuki TSUNODA
Yuki Tsunoda reached Q3 at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, qualifying in eighth place – four positions behind his team-mate Pierre Gasly. AlphaTauri did not have the pace in the race and Tsunoda finished 13th, two places behind his team-mate.
🇳🇿 Liam LAWSON
Liam Lawson has never previously raced at Losail International Circuit.
🇹🇭 Alex ALBON
Alex Albon was not on the grid last time Formula 1 staged the Qatar Grand Prix in 2021. Albon has never previously raced at Losail International Circuit.
🇺🇸 Logan SARGEANT
Logan Sargeant has no past racing experience at Losail International Circuit.
