With the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix just weeks away, the Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is turning up the heat for a weekend of racing with everything to drive for.

On track, the drama will be non-stop, from November 28 to 30. Beyond Sunday’s Grand Prix, the weekend lineup includes the Formula 1 Sprint, the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East, three races that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

With championship points on the line before Abu Dhabi’s finale, expect rivalries to flare and every overtake to matter. And when the engines cool? The thrill carries on. The LIC is rolling out a reimagined fan experience, from immersive zones and live performances to new hospitality spaces designed for connection and celebration.

Once the chequered flag drops, the lights dim and the party begins. This year’s entertainment lineup reads like a music fan’s dream: the timeless soul of Seal on Friday night and on Sunday, Metallica, ready to shake Lusail to its core. Beyond the stage, the action continues across a newly reimagined Fan Zone, a playground built for everyone. Whether you’re there for the adrenaline, the family fun or just the irresistible food, there’s something for every kind of fan. Expect pop-up dining from some of Qatar’s favourite vendors, immersive installations and the Qatar Cultural Area, where local heritage takes the spotlight through Ardha performances, Arabic coffee rituals and traditional crafts like Sadu weaving, pottery, calligraphy and henna art.

The family zone levels up this year, and it’s bringing LEGO magic to the desert. For the first time in the Middle East, LEGO’s global ‘Build The Thrill’ experience lands in Doha, letting fans of all ages design and race their own mini Formula 1 cars, play in a LEGO pit lane and take home their creations in exclusive Qatar GP packaging.

And for those who crave tech-fuelled fun, the thrills keep coming: test your reflexes at the F1 Sim Racing Challenge, go head-to-head at the LED Pitstop, climb the DJ Podium to feel that winner’s rush, snap a memory at the F1 Driver Selfie Station or dive into cinematic immersion with the ‘This is F1 4D’ show… Whatever your thrill, you’ll find it here.

It’s not just the circuit that’s shifting into high gear; the whole country is in race mode. Doha is embracing the Grand Prix spirit with a month-long celebration that blurs the line between sport and spectacle. At Place Vendôme mall, the Qatar GP Village opens in early November with holograms, VR simulators and interactive design challenges. Across the city, 10 human-sized F1 helmets will pop up at iconic landmarks from Old Doha Port to Msheireb. And there’s more still to be announced. ✤

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