Qatar F1 schedule for the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix held on the Lusail circuit in Doha from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th October.
The timetable below includes practice, qualifying, sprint race and main race start times in the circuit local time and different international time zones for people watching the Formula 1 from other countries.
It also details the complete schedule of all F1 and support races over the weekend so you can keep up with the on-track action if you’re attending in person.
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Qatar F1 race weekend format
The Qatar Grand Prix weekend feature a sprint race as well as the full Grand Prix. This means that there’s a race on both the Saturday and the Sunday of the weekend, rather than the more traditional schedule of qualifying on Saturday and racing on Sunday.
On a sprint weekend there are two qualifying sessions. One on Friday for the Grand Prix and one on Saturday, known as the Sprint Shootout, for the Sprint Race.
The number of practice sessions is also reduced from 3 to just 1.
Below is the format of all F1 sessions across the Qatar F1 race weekend:
Friday 6th October
- First practice session (60 mins)
- Qualifying session (60 mins)
Saturday 7th October
- Sprint shootout (45 mins)
- Sprint race (30 mins)
Sunday 8th October
- Grand Prix (57 laps or 120 mins)
2023 Qatar GP Qualifying time / Sprint Shootout
Qualifying for the Grand Prix at Qatar will take place on ther afternoon of Friday 6th October. It will begin at 20:00 local circuit time (Arabia Standard Time).
Qualifying will be split in to three seperate sessions – Q1, Q2 and Q3. All drivers take part in Q1, the fastest 15 of those move on to Q2 and of those 15 only the fastest 10 move on to the final ten minute Q3 shootout for pole position. This lasts for a total of 60 minutes.
This only decides the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday, not the Sprint race.
The grid for the Sprint race will be decided in the Sprint Shootout. This will take place on the morning of Saturday 7th October and will start at 16:00 local circuit time.
2023 Qatar F1 race time / Shootout time
The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix will start at 20:00 local circuit time on Sunday 8th October. It will last for either 57 laps or 120 minutes, whichever is shorter.
The Qatar sprint race will start at 20:30 local circuit time on Saturday 7th October.
F1 Qatar schedule 2023
Below is the Qatar Grand Prix schedule for the 2023 race weekend held on the Lusail circuit in Doha. This includes all practice sessions, qualifying time, sprint shootout and spring race time and the Grand Prix time.
| 2023 Qatar F1 Schedule - Lusail Circuit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Local Time | UK Time | Friday 6th October |
| 16:30 - 17:30 | 14:30 - 15:30 | Formula 1 First Practice Session - FP1 |
| 20:00 - 21:00 | 18:00 - 19:00 | Formula 1 Qualifying Q1 Q2 Q3 |
| Saturday 7th October | ||
| 16:00 - 16:45 | 14:00 - 14:45 | Formula 1 Sprint Shootout |
| 20:30 - 21:30 | 18:30 - 19:30 | Formula 1 Sprint Race |
| Sunday 8th October | ||
| 20:00 | 18:00 | Formula 1 Grand Prix Race |
What time is the Qatar Grand Prix in my country?
The time zone for the Lusail circuit in Qatar is Arabian Standard Time (AST) which is UTC+3.
The Qatar F1 Grand Prix race time is 20:00 local time (AST).
Below is the Qatar Grand Prix schedule for all F1 practice, qualifying, sprint and race sessions at the Lusail circuit in a number of different time zones.
If the time has a (-1) after it, it means it occurs the day before the local circuit time.
| Session | Lusail Circuit Qatar Local Time AST |
PT | CT | ET | BST (UK) | CEST | AEST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | 16:30 - Fri 6th Oct | 06:30 | 08:30 | 09:30 | 14:30 | 15:30 | 00:30 +1 |
| Qualifying | 20:00 - Fri 6th Oct | 10:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 04:00 +1 |
| Sprint Shootout | 16:00 - Sat 7th Oct | 06:00 | 08:00 | 09:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 00:00 +1 |
| Sprint Race | 20:30 - Sat 7th Oct | 10:30 | 12:30 | 13:30 | 18:30 | 19:30 | 04:30 +1 |
| Grand Prix | 20:00 - Sun 8th Oct | 10:00 | 12:00 | 13:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 04:00 +1 |
Where to watch the Qatar GP?
UK viewers will be able to watch live coverage of the Qatar Grand Prix practice, qualifying, sprint and race sessions on Sky Sports F1. You will need a paid subscription for that, however.
The pre-race build up and coverage usually starts around 60 – 90 minutes before the race begins on the Sky Sports F1 channel.
Highlights of the race will be available for free on Channel 4 later on in the day on Sunday 8th October. Check the channel’s timetable nearer the time for the exact time the program begins.
Information on international broacasts of the Qatar Grand Prix can be found on the official Formula 1 website.
Qatar Grand Prix gate opening times
If you’re lucky enough to be attending the Qatar Grand Prix in person you’ll want to know what time the gates open. Especially if you’ve got General Admission tickets and want a good viewing spot on Lusail Hill.
Qatar Grand Prix spectator gates open at 14:00 every day of the Formula 1 weekend.
Qatar F1 weekend detailed motorsport schedule
In the weeks or months before the Grand Prix weekend the race organised will release a detailed schedule of all motorsport activity across the three days.
This will include all F1 sessions, plus the F1 driver parade and off-track activity such as press conferences. Plus it will list the timings for the support series (if there are any). In the previous F1 race at Qatar in 2021 they were no support series racing.
Once the detailed motorsport schedule is available this page will be updated.
