The penultimate stage of the 2025 Fórmula 1 championship promises high tension in the Circuito Internacional of Lusail, with the start of track activities in the Grande Prêmio of Catar this Friday. The event will be marked by a sprint race format, which adds a short race on Saturday, as well as special rules for the use of tires that should directly impact the teams’ strategies during Sunday’s main race.
The entire program, which begins with the first free training session at 10:30 am (Brasília time), will be broadcast live on Brasil. The dispute in the desert also represents a symbolic moment for the Sauber team, which is approaching its complete transformation to the Audi from 2026, closing an important chapter in its history in the category.
For Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, the weekend starts with an additional challenge. The competitor in Sauber will carry a penalty of five positions on the starting grid of the main race, a consequence of an incident that occurred in the previous stage, in Las Vegas.
Detailed weekend schedule in Lusail
The event structure follows the pattern established for sprint race stages, concentrating emotion and decisive moments across all three days of activities on the circuit.
Friday is dedicated to the only free practice of the weekend and the classification that defines the starting grid for the sprint race. On Saturday, the drivers compete in the 100 kilometer short race and, hours later, return to the track for the qualifying session that establishes the positions for Sunday’s Grande Prêmio.
The official times (from Brasília) for each session are as follows:
- Free training 1:Sexta Friday, 10:30 am
- Classification for the sprint:Sexta Friday, 2:30 pm
- Sprint race:Sábado, 10:30 am
- Classification for the main race:Sábado, 2:30 p.m.
- Main race:Domingo, 1pm
This intense schedule requires teams to find a versatile car set-up quickly, as settings are locked in after the first free practice, applying to both the sprint and the 57-lap race.
The extra challenge imposed by Pirelli
Pirelli, the category’s official tire supplier, has established a safety guideline that fundamentally changes the dynamics of the main race. Foi determined a maximum limit of 25 laps for each set of tires, which, in practice, forces all teams to make at least two mandatory pit stops during the race. Essa measure was implemented after analyzing data on the wear of compounds on the abrasive asphalt of Lusail, aiming to avoid structural failures that could compromise the safety of competitors.
With two mandatory pit stops, the possibilities for alternative strategies are drastically reduced. Equipes and drivers who tend to rely on bold tactics, such as a single stop to gain positions on the track, lose this competitive advantage. The race is likely to become a test of the teams’ pure pace and operational efficiency during tire changes, as the windows for stops will be very similar across all competitors, leveling the strategic playing field and placing greater pressure on flawless execution.
An obstacle to Gabriel Bortoleto
Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto will face a journey of recovery on Sunday. Ele was penalized with the loss of five positions on the starting grid as a result of a contact with driver Lance Stroll during Las Vegas’s GP.
This sanction significantly complicates his chances of fighting for prominent positions, especially on a weekend with such restrictive tire rules, which limit opportunities for recovery through different strategies.
Despite the adverse scenario, the Sauber driver declared that he intends to maintain an aggressive approach to seek important points for the team. The challenge will be balancing the impetus to attack with the need for a clean race to climb the field.
Complete coverage on television and streaming
Brazilian fans of Fórmula 1 will have multiple options to follow every detail of Grande Prêmio of Band will broadcast live on open TV the first free practice, Friday’s qualifying, the sprint race on Saturday and the main race on Sunday, guaranteeing broad access to the most important moments of the weekend. Para more in-depth coverage, the BandSports subscription channel will show all sessions without exception, including both classifications and training sessions. Já For enthusiasts looking for complete immersion, the F1TV Pro platform offers the transmission of all track activities, with exclusive features such as onboard cameras in all cars, unrestricted access to team radio and real-time telemetry, allowing detailed technical analysis of the performance of drivers and cars throughout the event.
The night circuit of Lusail
Built to host the MotoGP, the Circuito Internacional of
Its long main straight, more than a kilometer long, is the main overtaking point, enhanced by the use of DRS. Correr at night under the powerful artificial lighting system adds a visual spectacle, but also presents challenges, such as the drop in asphalt temperature throughout the race, which affects tire grip.
The importance of sprint running
Saturday’s short race, 100 kilometers long, is not just a warm-up for the main event. Ela distributes valuable points to the top eight, with the winner earning eight points.
At such an advanced stage of the championship, these points could be decisive in defining the drivers’ and constructors’ titles. Teams therefore need to find a delicate balance between aggressiveness to maximize sprint results and caution to preserve equipment for Sunday’s race, which is worth more points.
Farewell to Sauber and the arrival of Audi
This weekend at Catar is another step in the countdown to the end of Sauber’s era as an independent team. From 2026, the Swiss structure will be completely transformed into the Audi factory team, marking the entry of a new automobile giant into the Fórmula 1.
