Qatar To Hold Its First-Ever Formula One Grand Prix

Qatar will maintain its first ever Formula One Grand Prix in November changing the cancelled Australian GP, organisers introduced on Thursday. The race will happen on the Losail International Circuit north of Doha on November 21 and can kind the primary a part of a Middle Eastern ending to the Formula One season as it is going to be adopted by races in Saudi Arabia and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Qatar has additionally signed a 10-year deal to host Formula One from 2023. The Australian GP, historically a season-opener, was moved in direction of the tip of the season in a bid to make sure it may go forward within the mild of Covid-19 restrictions. In spite of that, it was cancelled for a second yr working.

“We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023,” mentioned F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

“We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix.

“The large effort from all of the groups, F1 and the FIA has made it attainable to ship a 22 race calendar, one thing that may be very spectacular throughout a difficult yr and one thing we are able to all be happy with.”

The Losail Circuit opened in 2004 and has hosted Moto GP since then, under floodlights which will also be used for the Grand Prix.

Promoted

In its statement, F1 said it would confirm the venue for the race in Qatar from 2023 onward at a later date, suggesting a possible change from Losail.

It is the latest sporting coup for gas-rich Qatar, which will host the football World Cup in 2022.