Trackside at Lusail Circuit – 2025 Qatar Grand Prix

Access, orientation, on-track schedule and tips for F1 fans attending the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail Circuit

2025 Qatar F1 Tickets / F1 Experiences Packages / Doha Hotels / Qatar F1 Facebook Group

The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled from November 28-30

Dates are also confirmed for the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix on November 27-29

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The first race Qatar Grand Prix was held during the COVID-impacted 2021 F1 season, and was impacted by attendance restrictions. Following Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup for football in late 2022, Lusail Circuit returned to the F1 calendar in 2023 for the second edition of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, attracting a 3-day attendance of 120,000 fans. Ahead of Formula 1’s return last year, a brand new pits and hospitality building was constructed at the circuit.

Temperatures during the day during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix weekend reached as high as 40°C (104°F). Temperatures fell to around 30°C after dark, but with uncomfortably high humidity. Several drivers battled health problems during the race due to the extreme heat, including Williams driver Logan Sargeant, who was forced to retire. Needless to say, conditions for spectators were equally difficult, especially in uncovered grandstands and in the fan zone, which didn’t have a lot of shade.

Luckily the race moved to a new date at the end of the season in 2024. Temperatures were much milder in Qatar in late November, but always remember to bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if you are planning to arrive earlier in the day. Sunset on race weekend at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix is at around 16:45. It got quite cool at night during the 2024 race weekend, especially with windy conditions, so it’s also worth bringing along a light jumper or scarf. Attendance rose at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix to 155,000 fans over three days, an increase of almost 30% on 2023.

Attending the 2025 Qatar GP: Need to Know

Alcohol is not served in the fan zones at Lusail Circuit, but is available inside hospitality venues. It’s possible to pay for entry to an affordable hospitality tent with a paid bar (but no track view) in the fan zone, nearer to Turn 1.

Payments are accepted in cash and via credit/debit cards at Lusail Circuit. ATMs are located near the Main Grandstand at Spiral D and at Lusail Hill on the side closest to T2 & 3 (close to the Medical tent).

There is no public WIFI located at the circuit. Trackside hospitality suites and the Paddock Club normally offer free WIFI.

Smoking is NOT allowed at the grandstands, food & beverage areas, and certain activation areas. Lighters are among prohibited items and smoking will be allowed only in the designated smoking zones. Lighters are available in the designated smoking areas.

Access & Orientation at Lusail Circuit

Lusail International Circuit has six main entrance gates for general admission, grandstands and circuit hospitality spaces, plus an additional entry for Paddock Club guests. Most entry gates are located behind the grandstands on the main start-finish straight. Check the circuit map for entry gates. Airport style security checks will be conducted at entry gates and your e-tickets will be scanned. Please note that an additional ticket check will be done at grandstands and hospitality venues, where you will receive a wristband. Please note that NO RE-ENTRY will be allowed once you leave the venue security perimeter. Spectator shuttle buses are available inside the circuit with stops at the different Fan Zone and Grandstands venue entry points.

Gate opening hours are as follows during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix weekend (TBC for 2025):

Friday, November 29, 11:00-22:00

Saturday, November 30, 13:30-23:00

Sunday: December 1, 12:00-21:00

See the image below for prohibited items at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix (TBC for 2025). Please note that it is not possible to enter the circuit with any food or drinks, with the exception of baby food. Other prohibited items include glass containers, lighters, camera lenses exceeding 30cm in length, tripods and selfie sticks. More information about getting to the track, including trackside parking is available in this post: How to Get to Lusail Circuit – 2025 Qatar Grand Prix

Guests are requested to refrain from the following behaviors while attending the Qatar Grand Prix:

Intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behaviour, Actions that are harmful to or endanger others, Throwing items of any kind, Using foul or abusive language and/or gestures, Displaying inconsiderate behaviour towards others, Disorderly conduct, Wearing obscene or indecent clothing, Smoking in non-designated areas, Sitting or standing in the aisle ways, Entering or attempting to enter a restricted area or the racetrack, Entering the venue with any prohibited items, Harassment of opposing fans.

2025 Qatar Grand Prix Schedule

2025 On-Track Timetable: The full on-track programme will not be confirmed by until around 6 weeks before race weekend. Timings for F1 sessions are confirmed and listed below. Times listed are local, which is UTC+3. Sunset in Doha on race weekend 2025 is at approximately 16:45. (View the full 2024 schedule here: note that the F1 Academy will not be racing in Qatar this year).

Sprint Race Format: For the third year in succession, Qatar will be one of six circuits to host an F1 Sprint in 2025. There will only be one hour of free practice on Friday afternoon (16:30-17:30) before Sprint qualifying on Friday evening from 20:30. Saturday’s action starts with the F1 Sprint in the afternoon, followed by regular F1 qualifying in the evening. The race takes place on Sunday evening.

Support Categories: Formula 2 and Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East are the confirmed support categories at the 2025 Qatar GP

Thursday Pit Lane Walk: Not yet confirmed for 2025. This year, a pit lane walk was held on Thursday afternoon from 13:00-14:45 for 3-day ticket holders. Free pit lane walk tickets were offered via email to buyers of tickets for the race weekend and were claimed quickly.

Friday, November 28

16:30-17:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 1 (FP1)

20:30-21:14: Formula 1 Sprint Qualifying

Saturday, November 29

17:00-18:00: Formula 1 – Sprint (19 laps or 60 minutes)

21:00-22:00: Formula 1 – Qualifying

Sunday, November 30

19:00-21:00: Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025 (57 laps or 2 hours)

Lusail Fan Zone

The fan zone at Lusail Circuit is located behind the Main Grandstand and near the primary circuit entrance and parking. It’s where you will find static and interactive F1 displays, merchandise, food and drink stalls. Alcohol is not served in the fan zone or in any public areas of the circuit during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, with the exception of hospitality suites, but it is possible to pay for entry to an affordable hospitality tent with a paid bar (but no track view) in the fan zone, nearer to Turn 1.

One major complaint from racegoers at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix was that queues for the food and drink concessions were long and slow moving, especially during peak times. You can download the Snoonu app to order your trackside food in advance, though this system didn’t always work as intended during race weekend.

The Fanzone at Lusail Circuit is open to all ticket holders, and also features a Fan Forum, where the F1 drivers appear on stage. Times for the Fan Forum won’t be confirmed until much closer to race weekend 2025.

Trackside Concerts

Lusail Circuit has announced British soul singer Seal and legendary rock band Metallica will be the headline acts at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix. Seal will perform on Friday, with Metallica closing out the weekend on Sunday. No concerts are planned on Saturday evening due to the extended on-track schedule.

In line with other races in the Middle East, the Qatar Grand Prix welcomes international musical acts to entertain fans after the racing action has finished. In 2024, the post-race concert at the Qatar Grand Prix was headlined by Maroon 5. The race weekend also featured a performance by Myriam Fares on Friday evening.

The concerts take place in an area around 10-15 minutes walk away from the fan zone. Concert gates opened at 21:00 on Friday (Myriam Fares) and at 20:00 on Sunday (Maroon 5) during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix weekend. The concerts begin around 30 minutes after the last on-track action of the day, which will be around 22:45 on Friday and around 21:30 on Sunday. Note that the circuit gates will close at 22:00 on Friday and at 21:00 on Sunday. The concert arena can be reached only if you are already inside the circuit.