F1 in Qatar: free practice schedule, qualifying, sprint race and main GP with live broadcast By Thiago Lemos
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The GP of Catar of Fórmula 1 2025 begins its track activities this Friday (28) at Circuito Internacional of The stage includes a sprint race on Saturday and the main race on Sunday, valid for the penultimate round of the championship. Toda programming will be broadcast live on Band on open TV, BandSports on pay TV and the F1TV streaming service Pro.
The weekend also marks the last appearance of Sauber as an independent team before transforming into Audi in 2026. Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, driver of the Swiss team, arrives at Catar with a five-place grid penalty for the main race due to an incident at Las Vegas.
“Five is better than four”
—Formula 1 (@F1)November 27, 2025
Max Verstappen sits down with Chris Medland to reflect on his season so far and share his thoughts on the 2025 title fight, with two races left in his push for a fifth world championship 🤩#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/jhJa1OpkIz
Full session times
The schedule follows the standard stage format with a sprint in 2025.
- Free training 1: Friday (11/28), 10:30am
- Classification for the sprint grid: Friday (28/11), 2:30 pm
- Sprint race (100 km): Saturday (29/11), 10:30 am
- Classification for the main grid: Saturday (29/11), 2:30 pm
- Main race (57 laps): Sunday (11/30), 1pm
Friday’s qualifying session defines the sprint grid, while Saturday’s defines the positions for the long race.
Where to watch live
Broadcasting on Brasil has free and paid options.
Band shows free practice 1, Friday qualifying, sprint and the main race live. BandSports covers all sessions, including extra training and classifications. The F1TV Pro offers full transmission of all activities, with an onboard camera option and real-time data.
Special tire rules
Pirelli determined a maximum limit of 25 laps per set of tires in the main race.
Therefore, the race direction imposed two mandatory stops in the pits. The measure reduces the possibilities of different strategies, especially for drivers who start from the back of the grid. The race has 57 laps, which forces close stops between competitors.
Challenges for Brazilian pilots
Gabriel Bortoleto approaches the weekend with caution after accidents in the last two stages.
The driver of Sauber received a five-place penalty on Sunday’s grid for touching Lance Stroll in Las Vegas. Apesar taking extra care, he stated that he will maintain his aggressive style to seek points. The two pit stops rule reduces the chances of recovery with bold strategies.
Expectations for the sprint
Saturday’s short race awards up to eight points to the winner.
The sprint format requires a balance between risk and conservatism in equipment. The teams adjust their setup thinking about the two races over the weekend. The result of the sprint does not change Sunday’s grid.
The Circuito of Lusail is 5,380 meters long and has 16 curves, with a long main straight suitable for overtaking. The track has hosted F1 since 2021 and has hosted night races under full artificial lighting.