The race is on, and Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural Catar Grand Prix from pole position

to close the gap to world championship leader Max Verstappen to just eight points.

But on a weekend where the battle off track was arguably even more intense

and controversial than on it, has Mercedes taken the initiative at the crucial time?

I'm Ed Straw, and to answer that question, and many more, are Scott Mitchell and Mark Hughes.

Well, Scott, how are you doing? How are you enjoying Qatar?

The Grand Prix was one of the weaker ones, shall we say, of 2021, but the bar has been set pretty high.

And as for the place itself, it's very Middle East. I can't say I can't say I'm enjoying it.

It is uncomfortable for me being here personally.

It's obviously one of the more controversial races that have been added.

I know that there are plenty on the calendar now that have got questionable situations,

question of very poor human rights records and stuff like that.

So, yeah, I'm not going to pretend that it's all fun and games being here,

but we're here to do a job. So have to be here.

And, yeah, as Grand Prix go, it was in an offensive Grand Prix,

but it wasn't spectacular.

I think the circuit wowed the drivers more than it did anybody else.

Further proof, wouldn't you say, Mark Hughes,

that the good tracks for driving aren't necessarily the great

tracks for racing yeah that's always the way it is it's that way with cars as well it's the

fans like to see cars sliding around drivers like to drive cars loaded with grip so it's similar

with circuits you know this these long duration, fast corners are very, very satisfying

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