Training a confident and effective Crowd Management and Security Team for QATAR F1 2024 - 2025 Lusail International Circuit
To support the safe delivery of the 2024 and 2025 Formula 1 events at Lusail International Circuit, Steve developed and delivered a bespoke crowd safety training programme for more than 700 guards from local security companies. Many of the personnel had never previously worked at the circuit, so the programme was designed to give them the confidence, knowledge, and operational awareness needed to perform effectively in a high-profile international event environment.
THEMATIC PROGRAM
The 2024/25 programmes were delivered to more than 1200 security guards employed by local security companies, the majority of whom had not previously worked at Lusail International Circuit. The training was carefully structured to build confidence, deepen operational understanding, and ensure that every team member understood their role in maintaining a safe and secure environment throughout the event.
Drawing on Steve's international experience and specialist training knowledge, a training programme was created as a practical and focused learning package that addressed the realities of working at a large-scale international sporting event. This enabled the security teams to operate consistently, respond effectively to challenges, and support the smooth delivery of both race events.
THE EVENT
The success of the programme was evident in the professionalism and readiness of the teams on the ground. By equipping personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to operate effectively at the circuit, the training contributed directly to the safe and secure delivery of the 2024 and 2025 Qatar Formula 1 events
Steve's role extended beyond training delivery. During both events, roles included monitoring compliance among security staff and supervising zone managers across the circuit to ensure procedures were followed and standards remained consistent. This active oversight strengthened the overall security operation and supported the safe, secure, and professional delivery of both race weekends.
STEVE'S ROLE
Steve was working out in Riyadh on another project in August 2024 when the callout was made. The task as described was to develop a practical and effective training programme for safety and security stewarding of the Qatar F1 Fanzones.
Steve's nominated role was that of Event Crowd Management trainer and event practitioner working closely with the Lusail International Circuit Director of Circuit Security.
There was a short time in the UK for desktop research and development of the programme. Drawing on practitioner experience over a decade of training safety and security in the UK, an effective one-day 'principles of' training programme was established.
The task was daunting! Several hundred guards and their supervisors were to be trained over an 8-day continuous training schedule. So, each class would be 100 guards per day.
Over the two years of this project, over 1200 guards and 100+ supervisors from the 5 major security providers in Qatar received training. This covered a major upskilling in knowledge and abilities. As well as the key fundamentals of crowd safety and security, they were given practical demonstrations and practice on crowd intervention tactics for queue filtering and diverting crowd flows. Especially on egress from the circuit and transit to the after-racing mega concert arena. These effective crowd management tactics proved so successful that the Qatar Event Police approached us to learn how they worked and were implemented.
The circuit at sunset.