Qatar’s stature as a top destination for marquee sports events will get another major boost with the Losail International Circuit set to host the country’s first ever Formula One Grand Prix from November 19 to 21.
The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), the governing body for motorsports in the country, and the global body Formula 1 announced in a press conference Thursday that the Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix will replace the cancelled Australian Grand Prix in this season’s calendar.
Qatar has also signed a 10-year deal to host Formula One from 2023, with the F1 saying it would confirm the venue for the race from 2023 onward at a later date, suggesting a possible change from Losail.
This November’s Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix will be a night race and will form the first part of a Middle Eastern ending to the F1 season as it will be followed by races in Saudi Arabia and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Qatar has a strong track-record as a host of world class international sporting events – with state-of-the-art sporting facilities, modern infrastructure and expertise in major event management. Doha’s globally central location will be of huge benefit to F1 logistically, while also allowing more fans to travel to the race. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Doha has established itself as one of the most trusted and safe sports hubs for major events.
The QMMF and F1 said they have worked around the clock to ensure the race this November takes place, despite the unprecedented Covid-related challenges and the turn-around time for a deal of this complexity. For this year’s race, F1 will make use of Qatar’s existing motor racing facilities, which have hosted many motorsport events including MotoGP since 2004.
The 11-race deal will take place over 12 seasons, with Ooredoo – the international communications company – also announced as the title sponsor. There will be no race in 2022 as it coincides with Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The race will return to Qatar in 2023 and take place for the next 10-years until 2032.
Qatar’s deal with F1 will boost the balance sheet of a sport recovering from the hit of Covid-19 as well as further raising the profile of the Middle East in an increasingly global championship. The F1 revenues took an $877mn hit, a 43% drop, last year when the Covid-19 pandemic forced cancellations and races without crowds.
“We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023,” said F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali Thursday.
“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 huge effort from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22 race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year and something we can all be proud of,” Domenicali added.
The QMMF president Abdulrahman al-Mannai said Qatar will be a ‘great destination for F1’ calling it a pinnacle event in global motorsport. “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. We are very grateful to Ooredoo for supporting us with this historic event,” al-Mannai said.
“This exciting agreement means that Qatar will be the home of both Formula 1 and MotoGP for the next decade, which are the pinnacle events in global motorsport. We have a proud motorsport history and this is the next chapter for us. Qatar will be a great destination for F1 and we look forward to welcoming all the drivers, teams, media and fans very soon,” he added.
In a statement, Ooredoo said its sponsoring of F1 races in Qatar comes as part of Ooredoo’s strategy and efforts to contribute to the full realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030.   
Commenting on the sponsorship, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Managing Director of Ooredoo Group, said: “We are delighted that Qatar will be the host of such an important event on the global sporting calendar. As Title sponsor, Ooredoo is honoured to have been given the opportunity to support the QMMF in bringing Qatar’s first ever F1 race. We have a long history of supporting major sporting events, in line with our corporate social responsibility strategy, and we are tremendously proud this history will now include the F1 Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix. We extend our thanks to our partners F1 and the QMMF for their trust in Ooredoo and look forward to an incredible race weekend. I wish all the talented competitors the best of luck.”
Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla al-Thani, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and CEO of Ooredoo Qatar, said: “For Qatar to host such a prestigious international sporting event is a great honour. We are proud that, as part of our drive to achieve the aims of Qatar National Vision 2030, our country is well-prepared for such an event, and has indeed proved its suitability as a trusted hub for major sporting occasions. The magnitude of Ooredoo having its brand name showcased in such a prominent sport – alongside other major global entities – is highly valued, and we will ensure we support our partners in delivering a world-class event that will cement Qatar’s place on the global sporting stage.”