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Euan Leith's preview of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix for F1 Fantasy includes weather updates, differentials for your squads, and predictions for the Sprint race, qualifying, and the Grand Prix.
Happy Qatar GP, RotoBallers! Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive Drivers Championship in Las Vegas last weekend, but there's still plenty to play for in the Constructors title. Twenty-four points separate McLaren and Ferrari.
Regarding F1 Fantasy, it's the final best opportunity to use your chips. The Extra DRS boost will be very popular this weekend, but plenty of managers still have their Limitless, Auto Pilot, and No Negative chips to use.
The deadline for the Qatar GP in F1 Fantasy is Saturday, November 30, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, when the Sprint race starts. Also, check out the rest of our excellent DFS racing coverage to get you through every NASCAR and Formula 1 race.
Two iconic teams currently sitting 1-2 in the standings 📈
Equal wins, equal podiums, equal ambition.
Two races to go - who will be crowned Constructors' Champions? 👑#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/2oQMHgTHna
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 28, 2024
Previous Qatar Grand PrixWinners
- 2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- 2021: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Qatar Grand Prix Schedule
Friday, November 29th
- Practice 1: 8:30 a.m. ET
- Sprint Qualifying: 12:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, November 30th
- Sprint Race: 9:00 a.m ET (***F1 Fantasy lineup lock***)
- Qualifying: 1:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 1st
- Race: 11:00 a.m ET
Two iconic teams currently sitting 1-2 in the standings 📈
Equal wins, equal podiums, equal ambition.
Two races to go - who will be crowned Constructors' Champions? 👑#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/2oQMHgTHna
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 28, 2024
Qatar Grand Prix Weather
Last year's heat in Qatar forced race officials to enforce an 18-lap limit on all tires, resulting in a three-stop race for all drivers. The weather was incredibly demanding for drivers and the cars, and five DNFs (Did Not Finish) occurred in the Sprint race and two DNFs in Sunday's Grand Prix.
Friday, November 29th
- Temperature: 68-70° Farenheit
- Weather: Clear
- Precipitation: 0 percent
- Wind: 12 mph
Saturday, November 30th
- Temperature: 65-70° Farenheit
- Weather: Clear
- Precipitation: 0 percent
- Wind: 15 mph
Sunday, December 1st
- Temperature: 70° Farenheit
- Weather: Clear
- Precipitation: 0 percent
- Wind: 15 mph
F1 Fantasy Chip Strategy
In F1 Fantasy, many of our chips should be deployed on Sprint race weekends. Unfortunately, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is not one of those weekends. However, F1 Fantasy managers should be bold in deploying these precious boosts with three races left.
Extra DRS
If you still own the Extra DRS chip, this is the race to use it. McLaren should dominate this weekend, but keep an eye on Free Practice 1 and the Sprint Qualifying results. Combining triple McLaren or Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and McLaren is a fantastic use of the chip.
Limitless
Again, smoke them if you have them. No budget concerns mean most managers with the limitless chip should consider triple McLaren, Double Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and Max Verstappen as the final driver. The last decision will be the second constructor spot between Red Bull and Mercedes.
Auto Pilot
It could be a sneaky weekend to play this chip if you are rolling with a Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lineup. With papaya rules out the window like Norris' hope of a Driver's Championship, don't count out the Australian on taking his third win of the season.
F1 Fantasy Differentials
Drivers in less than 25 percent of the Global Top 500 are eligible for differential picks. Data courtesy of f1fantasytools.com.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren (21.2% rostered)
The Australian driver is the defending Sprint Race champion at this circuit, and his car should be rapid around the Lusail International Circuit. However, his current roster rate will skyrocket after transfers are made, so ignore Oscar Piastri at your own risk.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas (9.0% rostered)
After sitting out the Brazilian GP through illness, Kevin Magnussen immediately got stuck back in at Las Vegas. Among Tier C drivers (less than $15m), the Danish driver ranks second in points per race on the season (6.9) and second in the last three races (10.0)
Max Verstappen, Red Bull (1.2% rostered)
It's hard to imagine the four-time World Champion being this lowly rostered, but that's where we are in today's F1 Fantasy landscape. Managers should never count the Dutchman out from winning a race, and now that he's got the Championship wrapped up, he's got nothing to lose except to add to his win tally.
Predictions
Sprint Qualifying
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Sprint Race
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Lando Norris, McLaren
Qualifying
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- George Russell, Mercedes
Grand Prix
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
