The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation president Abdulrahman al-Mannai was a pleased man as he sat next to Formula One President & CEO Stefano Domenicali to announce Qatar hosting its first ever F1 Grand Prix later this November.
The night race at Losail International Circuit has been in the planning stages for some months, but the announcement had to wait for the commercial arrangements to be finalised, and will take place from November 19 to 21. After a break next year due to Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup, the country will host F1 races for 10 years from 2023 to 2032.
Al-Mannai said it was a ‘very special day for Qatar Motorsport’ and was proud Qatar could step in to fill a slot to host a race following a decision to cancel the Australian Grand Prix for a second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is a very special day for Qatar Motorsport and our nation’s ambitions as a host of major sporting events,” al-Mannai said at the Losail International Circuit yesterday. “I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support Formula 1 by stepping in and hosting a race in our country in such a short time frame, while also securing a ground-breaking long-term deal with F1. We are very grateful to Ooredoo for supporting us with this historic event,” the QMMF President added.
In a statement F1 noted: “There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed and agreed for 10 years.
“The step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long-term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long-term agreement. As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the grand prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time.”
The night race at Losail will be the third event in a triple header that begins with the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix. The Ooredoo Qatar GP will be followed by races in Saudi Arabia and the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The 16-turn Losail track built in 2004 is no stranger to high octane racing, having become a permanent fixture on the two-wheeled MotoGP calendar. Discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023, with further details to be provided at a later time.
Losail already had an FIA Grade 1 Licence, which meant it was a viable option to host a Grand Prix this year at short notice amid the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. It’s learnt F1 has listed some modifications to the track which includes a revised pit entry and modifications to some kerbs and barriers, as well as new team hospitality buildings in the paddock. That work has been undertaken in recent weeks.
The Losail track has only rarely been used for top level car racing. A round of the GP2 Asia championship was held in February 2009, with the two races won by Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, while the NASCAR-based Speedcar series that featured former F1 drivers also visited the same year. Three rounds of the WTCC were also held at the track between 2015 and 2017.      
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