Middle East lands another F1 grand prix, 10-year deal

3 years ago 339

Formula 1 has locked successful Qatar to big the vacant expansive prix spot connected the 2021 calendar, arsenic portion of a triple-header with Mexico and Brazil successful November.

Qatar's Losail International Circuit, a long-time MotoGP venue, volition big its first-ever Formula 1 expansive prix connected the play of November 19-21, arsenic the satellite title reaches its 20th of 22 rounds.

Qatar has besides signed a 10-year woody with Formula 1 to big a expansive prix each twelvemonth from 2023 to 2032. The satellite title won't spell to the Middle East state successful 2022 owed to a clash with the FIFA World Cup, which is acceptable to beryllium held successful Qatar adjacent year.

The satellite title volition instrumentality to Qatar successful 2023 astatine a venue yet to beryllium confirmed, with a caller circuit present successful its readying stages.

"There was a beardown volition from Qatar to beryllium adjuvant to F1 and, successful the people of this process, the imaginativeness for a longer concern was discussed and agreed for 10 years," a Formula 1 connection reads.

"The measurement from the motion to beryllium adjuvant to F1 successful 2021 to a semipermanent strategy was abbreviated and simple, and the imaginativeness for F1 to beryllium the showcase for Qatar aft the FIFA World Cup successful 2022 was the driving unit down this semipermanent agreement.

"As portion of the longer-term deal, discussions volition proceed regarding the determination for the expansive prix from 2023, with further details to beryllium provided astatine a aboriginal time."

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The woody sees Qatar go the 4th Middle East big of the Formula 1 satellite championship, joining Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain hosted this year's season-opener aft Australia's COVID-19 situation forced the Melbourne Grand Prix to beryllium cancelled a 2nd twelvemonth successful succession.

Formula 1's increasing beingness successful the Middle East is an denotation of the governing body's expanding reliance connected the portion for funding, arsenic good arsenic Qatar's propulsion to capitalise connected the vulnerability generated by the looming FIFA World Cup.

"We person shown that we tin proceed to accommodate and determination is immense involvement successful our athletics and the anticipation from galore locations to person a expansive prix," Formula 1 main enforcement Stefano Domenicali said.

"The immense effort from each the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it imaginable to present a 22-race calendar, thing that is precise awesome during a challenging twelvemonth and thing we tin each beryllium arrogant of."

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