Formula 1 drivers who have tried the Losail circuit in team simulators expect the Qatar GP venue to be challenging and physically tough.
Of those on the current grid, only Sergio Perez and Nikita Mazepin had previously raced on the track in the GP2 Asia and the MRF Challenge.
Others have had to schedule factory visits and sim runs as part of the current race schedule and only recently had the opportunity to try Losail.
A high level of downforce and a series of fast corners will present the drivers with a major challenge.
“It’s a pretty fast track,” said Lando Norris when asked by Motorsport.com. “Not a lot of big braking zones or anything so it will probably be pretty physical.
“I don’t know what the race will be like or anything, I have no idea yet. But a pretty funny track, it looks like. “
“It will be a very fast track,” said Pierre Gasly. “It’s hard to compare to any other track we’ve been on so it’s going to be a challenge.
“Driving in the simulator and technically speaking it seems to be really exciting. In terms of the race, it’s pretty fast and there are a lot of long corners, high yaw angles so it might be difficult to follow but we’ll see.
“It’ll probably get pretty physical in terms of G and the minimum corner speed is pretty high.
“But Sao Paulo is always very difficult and also anti-clockwise. With a triple header, the neck is still stiff from the first race to the end, so I think we’ll be fine in Abu Dhabi. “
George Russell also recognized the fast nature of the route.
“To be honest, it’s a pretty comfortable track,” said the Williams driver. “Very fast, lively, high downforce, also a long straight. So I think there will be some good races. “
Losail International Circuit
Perez, who admits he can remember little of his 2009 Losail visit but tried the Red Bull simulation, hopes Mercedes will have fewer advantages on the straight than was evident in Brazil.
“We’ll see what we can do in Qatar,” said the Mexican. “I think it will be a different route. Probably the speed on the straight isn’t that relevant there so hopefully we can be a lot more competitive.
“I think it’s a very fast track with very high downforce. And hopefully the main straight is not too long! “
Russell agreed that teams with greater resources tend to have an advantage when visiting new venues, which will also be a factor in the next event in Jeddah.
“It definitely helps the teams with better simulations,” he said. “Because behind the scenes they are a bit more at the top of the game than the teams at the back of the grid.
“But it always offers opportunities. The track is constantly evolving, the drivers have to learn, the teams have to learn. So if you work well as a racing team, you should be able to make the most of it. “
Norris agreed that new venues are usually comfortable for drivers.
“I think it’s good for us as drivers to try to adapt to something new,” said the McLaren driver. “And it’s always more exciting when you have a new track to try to get up to speed and try different things.
“I just hope the race is fun. That’s the best part of going to a new track to see if the race is good. They look like two fun tracks, very different tracks, one street circuit and one very wide and open. I’m just looking forward to her. “
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