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F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025

Lewis Hamilton among four F1 drivers set for Qatar pit lane start

The starting grid is set to be reduced to 16 cars for the Qatar sprint race.

Hamilton Qatar
Article
To news overview © XPBimages

Four F1 drivers, including seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, are set to start the Qatar sprint race from the pit lane.

This is due to changes made to their cars, breaching parc fermé conditions ahead of the shorter Saturday race.

As well as Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colpainto will all take to the pit lane for the start of the race.

The suspension set-up of all four cars was changed, while Ferrari also made modifications to Hamilton's rear wing assembly.

Stroll underwent more extensive changes, including to his steering rack, steering column rack, diffuser edge and parameters associated with the energy management calibration of the engine.

All four cars were due to start from towards the back of the grid regardless, having suffered SQ1 exits on Friday.

The starting grid has now been reduced to just 16 cars, with Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson forming the back row.

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