Qatar GP: when can you watch practice, qualifying and the debut race live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend

Will Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton lead the incredibly close title fight after Qatar’s first-ever GP? Watch qualifying on Saturday at 2pm and the race on Sunday at 2pm – both live on Sky Sports F1 only

The dramatic battle for the Formula 1 championship between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton has come to the final three races, starting with the Qatar GP – and you can watch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend.

Verstappen and Hamilton, after a controversial Sao Paulo GP, are split on just 14 points in the standings, meaning the title cannot be claimed this weekend – but they could go a long way to get their hands on the trophy.

The Qatar GP sees a return to the usual F1 format, with three practice sessions before qualifying on Saturday and the more familiar ‘European’ times for the first F1 weekend at the Losail International Circuit just outside Doha.

The key live times on Sky Sports F1 this weekend are:

• Qualification starts on Saturday at 2 p.m. with build-up from 1 p.m
• The race starts on Sunday at 2 p.m. with construction from 12.30 p.m

What is Qatar’s Lto sail circuit like?

Although it will be the first time for Formula 1 to come to Qatar, Qatar has hosted international racing events at Losail since it opened in 2004. Qatar has been a mainstay of the MotoGP racing calendar since that inaugural year.

F1 has been a rumored target for at least the last 10 years and Qatar is technically filling in for the Australian GP this year, which was moved to a slot in November due to Covid-19 but was then canceled several months ago for the second year in a row .

At the same time, a 10-year deal was signed from 2023 (there will be no event in 2022 due to the World Cup), although the return will likely be at a different location than Losail.

Losail Important Facts

Sergio Perez is the only one of the current drivers on the grid to have driven the track, the now Red Bull driver who won the GP2 Asia winter series there in 2009. Former Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg won the other race that weekend.

“It’s a very fast track, with a lot of downforce, so we’ll see how fast we can be,” said Perez. “I don’t remember riding that well there, it was a long time ago so I don’t believe there’s much benefit to me!” Sergio Perez is the only current driver on the grid to have driven the track, the now-Red Bull driver winning the GP2 Asia winter series there in 2009. Former Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg won the other that weekend race.

The race will take place at 5pm local time, at 2pm in the UK, classifying it as a ‘twilight’ race like Abu Dhabi, starting as the sun sets and finishing under floodlights.

When to watch live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend

Friday
10am: Practice One Live (Session starts at 10:30am)

1:45 PM: Practice Two Live (Session starts at 2:00 PM)

Saturday
10.45am: Practice Three Live (Session starts at 11am)

13:00: Qualification build-up Live

2:00 PM: Qatar GP live qualifying*

3:45 PM: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday
12.30 pm: Race build-up – Grand Prix Sunday Live

2:00 PM: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX LIVE

4pm: Race Reaction – Checkered Flag Live

5pm: Ted’s Notebook Live

6:00 PM: Qatar GP Highlights