2025 F1 Qatar Grand Prix: Full Weekend Schedule and Start Times Explained
The 2025 Formula 1 season is rapidly approaching its dramatic conclusion, and this weekend the championship circus heads to the Middle East for Round 23 — the highly anticipated Qatar Grand Prix in Doha. With only two races left on the calendar, every session carries massive weight for teams and drivers still battling for points, podiums, and possibly the world title. The Qatar GP returns as one of the most physically demanding events on the F1 schedule, thanks to its fast, sweeping layout and the typically hot desert climate.
This year’s visit to Lusail is especially important because it hosts the final Sprint weekend of the 2025 season. That means the format varies slightly from traditional race weekends, offering fans more competitive action and giving drivers an additional opportunity to score crucial points before the championship finale.
Below is a full breakdown of the entire Qatar GP weekend — including practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and the main race — with all start times clearly listed. Whether you’re following from within the Gulf region or watching from another continent, the schedule ensures that fans won’t miss a single key moment of the action.
A Busy Weekend: Sprint Racing Returns for its 2025 Finale
The Qatar GP is the final event this year to feature the Sprint format. Under this structure, Friday becomes more exciting with only one practice session followed by Sprint Qualifying, which determines the grid for Saturday’s Sprint.
The Sprint race itself will take place on Saturday, November 29th, beginning at 14:00 GMT (17:00 local Qatar time). This one-hour dash is a shorter, more intense version of the Grand Prix and has often produced unpredictable results, dramatic overtakes and crucial strategy decisions.
As soon as the Sprint wraps up, teams will quickly switch focus to regular qualifying later on Saturday evening. This session decides the official starting order for Sunday’s main event. With changing track temperatures and the unique nighttime conditions in Qatar, qualifying often becomes one of the weekend’s most exciting and unpredictable battles.
The Main Event: Sunday’s Grand Prix
The Qatar Grand Prix itself — a full 57-lap showdown under the lights of the Lusail International Circuit — will take place on Sunday, November 30th, starting at 16:00 GMT (19:00 local time).
Lusail is known for its long straights, wide corners, and high-speed sections that allow drivers to push the limits. Combined with hot desert winds and the abrasive circuit surface, tire degradation often becomes one of the defining features of the race. Teams must manage strategic pit stops carefully, as mistakes can cost significant track position.
Since this race arrives so late in the season, the Qatar GP normally influences both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship battles. With the pressure at its peak, fans can expect wheel-to-wheel duels, bold overtaking attempts, and possibly decisive moments that will shape the outcome of the 2025 season.
Full 2025 Qatar GP Weekend Schedule
Here is the complete timetable for all sessions taking place over the race weekend. These are the local Lusail circuit times:
Friday, 28 November
Free Practice 1: 14:30 – 15:30
The only practice session of the weekend. Teams will focus heavily on gathering data quickly, understanding tire behaviour and optimizing the car for both Sprint and qualifying conditions.
Sprint Qualifying: 18:30 – 19:14
This short but intense session sets the grid for the Sprint race. Expect traffic challenges and quick strategic decisions on tire usage.
Saturday, 29 November
Sprint Race: 15:00 – 16:00
This final Sprint of the 2025 season offers valuable championship points. Drivers will push aggressively, as the shorter distance often encourages risk-taking.
Qualifying: 19:00 – 20:00
Traditional qualifying returns on Saturday night. This session determines Sunday’s Grand Prix starting order, and with cooler temperatures after sunset, lap times tend to be extremely quick.
Sunday, 30 November
Grand Prix: 17:00 – 19:00
The 57-lap Qatar Grand Prix begins in the evening and runs into the night. With the championship nearing its final chapter, this race could play a decisive role in the fight for the 2025 title.
A Weekend Full of High Stakes
The 2025 Qatar GP promises non-stop action — from a packed Sprint Saturday to the all-important race under the Lusail floodlights. With championship pressure at an all-time high and only one more race to follow, this is a weekend no F1 fan will want to miss.
