Qatar to host maiden F1 Grand Prix in November as part of 10-year deal
Madrid, Sep 30 (EFE).- Qatar is set to host its maiden Formula One Grand Prix in November as the country joins the 2021 race calendar, organizers announced Thursday.
The F1 weekend between November 19-21 will take place at the Losail International Circuit, replacing the Australian GP, which was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Qatar has also signed a 10-year deal from 2023 onward and possibly with a new location that will be built specifically to stage the races. In 2022, there will be no race due to the FIFA World Cup.
“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 F1 said in a statement.
Abdulrahman al-Mannai, chief of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation, said that “this is a very special day for Qatar Motorsport and our nation’s ambitions as a host of major sporting events.
“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.”
The race at Losail will be followed by the Saudi Arabian GP on December 5 and Abu Dhabi GP on December 12.EFE
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