| 2021 Qatar Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 20 of 22[1] in the2021 Formula One World Championship
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 The circuit layout | |||||
| Race details[2] | |||||
| Date | 21 November 2021 | ||||
| Official name | Formula 1 OoredooQatar Grand Prix 2021 | ||||
| Location | Losail International Circuit,Lusail,Al Daayen,Qatar | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.380 km (3.343 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 57 laps, 306.660 km (190.550 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Clear | ||||
| Attendance | 80,000[3] | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Mercedes | ||||
| Time | 1:20.827 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver |  Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing-Honda | |||
| Time | 1:23.196 on lap 57(lap record) | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Mercedes | ||||
| Second | Red Bull Racing-Honda | ||||
| Third | Alpine-Renault | ||||
Lap leaders | |||||
The2021 Qatar Grand Prix (officially known as theFormula 1 Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix 2021) was a Formula One motor race, held on 21 November 2021 at theLosail International Circuit inQatar. The inauguralQatar Grand Prix, it was the 20th round of the2021 Formula One World Championship.
Mercedes driverLewis Hamilton won the race ahead ofRed Bull driverMax Verstappen, whileAlpine'sFernando Alonso scored his first podium since the2014 Hungarian Grand Prix,[4] as well as his first podium withTeam Enstone since the2009 Singapore Grand Prix.
As a result of Hamilton's victory, Losail became the 30th different circuit where he has won a Grand Prix.[5]
TheQatar Grand Prix did not feature on the original calendar, but was added in place of theAustralian Grand Prix, which was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. It was the first Qatar Grand Prix, with a 10-year contract to host the Qatar Grand Prix from 2023 at a new purpose-built circuit;[6] there was no Qatar Grand Prix in2022, as the country hosted theFIFA World Cup.[7][8][9]
Heading into the race,Max Verstappen led the World Drivers' Standings with 332.5 points, 14 points ahead of second-placedLewis Hamilton.Valtteri Bottas was in third on 203 points, too far behind Verstappen to be able to win the title but 25 points ahead ofSergio Pérez in fourth, withLando Norris fifth on 151 points. In the World Constructors' Standings,Mercedes led with 521.5 points, 11 points ahead of second-placedRed Bull Racing.Ferrari were third with 287.5 points ahead ofMcLaren on 256.Alpine andAlphaTauri were fifth and sixth with 112 points each, with Alpine being ahead courtesy of a win, compared to no wins for AlphaTauri.[10]
The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race or practice.[11]
Sole tyre supplier Pirelli allocated theC1, C2, and C3 compounds of tyre to be used during this Grand Prix weekend.[12]
The event held three practice sessions, each lasting one hour. The first two practice sessions were on Friday, 19 November at 13:30 and 17:00 local time (UTC+03:00) respectively. The first practice session ended withMax Verstappen fastest forRed Bull Racing, ahead ofAlphaTauri driverPierre Gasly andMercedes driverLewis Hamilton.[13] Second practice ended withValtteri Bottas fastest, then Gasly and Verstappen.[14] In the third practice session, held on Saturday from 14:00, Bottas was again fastest, with his teammate Hamilton second.[15]
Qualifying took place at 17:00 local time, and lasted one hour, with Hamilton qualifying on pole. Verstappen, who qualified second, received a five-grid place penalty for failure to respect double yellow flags in Q3.[15]
Notes
The race began at 17:00 local time and was contested over 57 laps.[15] The race was noted for four front-left tyre failures, as teams attempted to run one-stop strategies against Pirelli's advice.[21][22][23] Hamilton won the race, leading every lap, but Verstappen, who finished second, denied him agrand slam by setting the fastest lap.Fernando Alonso finished third, taking his first podium since the2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Notes
Drivers' Championship standings
| Constructors' Championship standings
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| Previous race: 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix | FIA Formula One World Championship 2021 season | Next race: 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix |
| Previous race: None | Qatar Grand Prix | Next race: 2023 Qatar Grand Prix |
