Hamilton Questions FIA Over Lack of Qatar GP Overtaking Solutions

Lewis Hamilton has voiced strong concerns about the FIA's inaction in improving racing quality at Formula 1's Qatar Grand Prix, citing the Lusail circuit's inherent difficulties for overtaking.

Why it matters:

F1's inability to deliver exciting racing at certain venues, like Qatar, risks alienating fans and diminishing the sport's spectacle. Hamilton's direct challenge to the FIA highlights a perceived lack of proactive problem-solving from the governing body, emphasizing the need for immediate action to enhance race quality, especially as the sport expands its global footprint to new and potentially challenging circuits.

The Details:

• Circuit Limitations: The Lusail circuit layout and an ineffective DRS zone made overtaking incredibly difficult, drawing comparisons from Hamilton to Monaco as "probably the worst race for us to go to."
• Hamilton's Frustration: Hamilton questioned the FIA in the drivers' briefing, asking why no adjustments, such as extending the DRS zone, were made despite prior knowledge of overtaking difficulties. He reportedly received the response, "Oh, um, we haven't thought of that."
• Proposed Tweaks: Hamilton suggested several layout changes, including shortening the pitlane (currently 26 seconds) by utilizing unused space, which could incentivize strategic pit stops.
• Driver Consensus: George Russell echoed Hamilton's sentiments, noting the track is "amazing to drive, but impossible to get within the DRS." He pointed out the DRS zone is too short and the first corner too fast, lacking the slow corner needed for effective dives.
• Sainz's Suggestions: Carlos Sainz proposed reprofiling the final and first corners to create more overtaking opportunities, like a tighter last corner leading to a hairpin onto the main straight, or a tighter Turn 1 akin to Austin.

The Big Picture:

While immediate circuit revisions are unlikely, F1's 2026 car regulations are poised to bring significant changes. The abolition of DRS, coupled with a focus on energy deployment and new aero rules designed to allow cars to follow much closer, could naturally enhance overtaking. Current F1 cars retain only 80% of their downforce at 20 meters behind a rival, down from 95% at the start of the current ruleset. Early CFD data for 2026 predicts cars will retain 90% of their downforce at a similar distance, potentially opening up passes in unusual places and improving race spectacle without specific track alterations.

Between the lines:

It's noteworthy that Lusail, despite its F1 woes, has a strong reputation in MotoGP for delivering exciting racing and last-lap deciders. This difference highlights how track design interacts uniquely with different racing series. The straight, too short for F1's DRS, is ideal for MotoGP slipstream overtakes, and the wide track allows for diverse racing lines, even within MotoGP's aero era. This disparity suggests that while the circuit may not be inherently bad, its current configuration is not optimized for modern F1 cars, underpinning the need for either track modifications or a fundamental shift in F1 car design.

What's next:

With no DRS in 2026 and new aerodynamic regulations aiming for closer racing, the onus might shift from circuit design tweaks to the new generation of cars to improve the spectacle at challenging venues like Qatar. However, the current discontent from drivers like Hamilton may prompt the FIA to be more proactive in evaluating and optimizing existing circuits for the current car generation in the interim, ensuring better racing quality across the calendar.