Our three championship contenders occupy the first three grid positions for today’s race, and Lando Norris can clinch the World Championship if Sunday goes his way — but he must first overtake team‑mate Oscar Piastri and out‑score Max Verstappen.
Adding extra intrigue, organisers have imposed an unusual set of tyre‑usage restrictions designed to avoid a repeat of last year’s punctures. That could complicate strategy, simplify it, or both — but it will certainly change the game…
What happened last year?
Lusail forces drivers into an ultra‑high‑speed game of chicken, where nobody wants to be the first to yield. Last year’s race was a medium‑to‑hard one‑stop affair, with the ideal pit window around Lap 20.