2025 F1 Qatar Grand Prix Start Time and Full Schedule

Formula 1 returns to Lusail this weekend for the Qatar Grand Prix, the season’s 23rd round and final Sprint event, running November 28–30 as championships reach a decisive phase.

The Sprint starts Saturday at 14:00 GMT, 17:00 local, following Friday’s single practice and Sprint qualifying. That compressed structure rewards teams that hit the ground running with baseline car balance.

Practice runs Friday from 14:30 to 15:30 local. Sprint qualifying follows from 18:30 to 19:14, setting Saturday’s grid and locking parc fermé early, which limits overnight setup freedom.

The Grand Prix begins Sunday at 16:00 GMT, 19:00 local, over 57 laps. Lusail’s fast, long-radius corners stress front tyres and demand disciplined energy and temperature management.

McLaren arrives leading the Constructors’ Championship, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri first and second in the Drivers’ standings as consistency underpins their title push.

Norris holds 390 points. Piastri sits on 366, level with Max Verstappen, who places third on countback, intensifying the fight for track position in both Sprint and Grand Prix.

The final Sprint format compresses learning. One hour of practice, then parc fermé, shifts emphasis to pre-event simulation accuracy and correlation, particularly for tyre wear over Lusail’s high-load, night conditions.

Car setup leans towards robust front support and stable rear rotation through medium-speed sweeps. Wind shifts and track evolution after MotoGP rubber can complicate balance and braking stability.

Operationally, teams prioritise cooling margins and brake management in traffic. Pit windows depend on degradation trends, with undercut potency rising if fronts grain early on heavy-fuel stints.

Qatar precedes the Abu Dhabi finale on December 7, raising the stakes for Constructors’ positions and narrative momentum heading into Yas Marina’s different traction and energy demands.

The timetable caters to global audiences, with key sessions aligned for evening viewing in Qatar and accessible GMT slots, helping fans track every competitive phase across three days.

With points on offer in the Sprint and main race, execution under pressure will define who carries momentum into Abu Dhabi and who leaves Lusail ruing missed opportunities.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.