Alonso claims that F1 regulations are causing races, such as the one in Qatar, to be uninteresting.

      "You simply can’t keep up - the tyres become too hot."

      Drivers anticipate that Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix will be a monotonous event following a sprint that highlighted the track's longstanding struggle to deliver thrilling racing. Fernando Alonso was straightforward, stating to DAZN that the sprint was more of a parade than a race. "It was just a procession of cars," he remarked. "In today’s F1, our tyre pressures are set by Pirelli, pitstops are dictated by the FIA, and even weight distribution is controlled by the FIA. We have an abundance of everything except those elements that create excitement," the 44-year-old veteran noted.

      Lando Norris, who could secure the championship on Sunday with a win from third position, anticipates a similar outcome. "The only chance is at Turn 1," he stated. "Other than that, it’s likely to be a rather dull and straightforward race." Max Verstappen concurred that the sprint was "quite boring," attributing it to the challenge of maintaining proximity. "You just can’t follow - the tyres overheat. With all the high-speed turns and the grip, it’s extremely difficult to stay close."

      Norris added that even DRS isn't proving beneficial since "once you're within three seconds, you begin to struggle." There have been discussions about extending the DRS zone for Sunday, but some teams expressed concerns regarding their setups. George Russell, who didn’t even reach DRS range during the sprint, remarked that the circuit simply doesn't facilitate overtaking. "It wouldn’t matter if DRS was three times longer," he explained. "With all the flat-out corners leading into the straight, it’s impossible to remain close. It’s one of the best tracks to drive, but for overtaking? One of the most challenging. Something needs to change."