F1 confirms 2021 Qatar GP and ten-year race deal from 2023

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Method Just one has confirmed it will race in Qatar afterwards this calendar year at the Losail Circuit and announced a 10-12 months offer for a race in the nation from 2023.

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This year’s Qatar Grand Prix will consider place on Nov. 21 and will be round 20 of 22 in this year’s championship. The Losail Circuit north of Doha has hosted Moto GP races given that it opened in 2004 but has however to host an F1 race. F1 is preparing to host the race beneath floodlights — as Moto GP does with its race.

On the other hand, F1 stated it would verify the very long-term spot of the race in Qatar from 2023 onward at a afterwards date, hinting at a new location. The 10-yr deal will follow the internet hosting of the FIFA Environment Cup in Qatar in 2022.

In 2021, Qatar will fill a slot that was previously outlined as TBA by F1, following a selection to cancel the Australian Grand Prix for a second 12 months running thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are quite pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formulation Just one calendar this season and for the more time term from 2023,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali mentioned. “The Qatar Motor & Motorbike Federation and Authorities have been outstanding and have moved at great pace to guarantee the race can take spot this season at the Losail Circuit, famous to lots of as the host of MotoGP.

“We have shown that we can carry on to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many places to have a grand prix. The massive work from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it doable to supply a 22 race calendar, something that is really outstanding through a complicated calendar year and a little something we can all be happy of.”

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Human legal rights team Amnesty Global lifted problems in excess of F1’s choice to race in Qatar.

“It is really no top secret that rich countries in the Middle East see best-stage sport as a indicates to rebrand and sportswash their images, and a grand prix in Qatar would be far more of the identical,” Amnesty Intercontinental UK’s CEO, Sacha Deshmukh, mentioned. “Owning sunk extensive amounts of funds into Paris Saint-Germain and hired countless numbers of abroad employees to make stadiums for future year’s World Cup, Qatar is plainly making an attempt to switch alone into a sporting superpower.”

Deshmukh extra: “Motorists and their teams ought to be prepared to converse out about human legal rights in Qatar in the direct-up to this race, carrying out their bit to split the spell of sportwashing and picture administration.”

F1 responded in a statement of its own: “For decades Formula Just one has labored hard to be a positive pressure in all places it races, including economic, social, and cultural benefits. Sports like Method One particular are uniquely positioned to cross borders and cultures to deliver nations and communities with each other to share the enthusiasm and exhilaration of remarkable level of competition and accomplishment.

“We consider our tasks on rights pretty significantly and set superior ethical specifications for counterparties and individuals in our offer chain, which are enshrined in contracts, and we pay back near attention to their adherence.”

The 5.380km Losail circuit has the necessary FIA Quality A person certification to hold a Formula One grand prix. FIA president Jean Todt stated his organisation experienced been working with Qatar to make sure Losail is ready to host this year’s race.

“I congratulate Formulation A person, the Qatar Motor & Motorbike Federation and the Qatari authorities, who have labored tirelessly, to speedily and competently make the inaugural Grand Prix in Qatar materialize in these difficult moments,” Todt claimed. “The Losail Intercontinental Circuit, which will welcome the race, has been performing intently with us to assure they are complete well prepared for this momentous event. We are really proud of this collective accomplishment.

“I thank the QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai and the Minister of Lifestyle and Sport Ghanem al Ali for their involvement. This dedication to F1 for the lengthy-time period, as well as the organisation of the 2022 FIFA Earth Cup and lots of other intercontinental events, is another illustration of Qatar’s sturdy enthusiasm for sport.”

Lewis Hamilton currently sales opportunities Max Verstappen by two factors in the drivers’ championship with seven races still left to operate. Mercedes qualified prospects Pink Bull by 33 details in the constructors’ championship.

Remaining races on F1 calendar:

Spherical 16: Turkish Grand Prix – Oct. 8-10
Round 17: US Grand Prix – Oct. 22-24
Round 18: Mexican Grand Prix – Nov. 5-7
Round 19: Brazilian Grand Prix – Nov. 12-14
Spherical 20: Qatar Grand Prix – Nov. 19-21
Spherical 21: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Dec. 3-5
Round 22: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Dec. 10-12