Qatar to host F1 race for first time in November

Qatar will host a Formula One race for the primary time in November and for 10 years from 2023.
Qatar takes the remaining slot left vacant on this yr’s reshuffled calendar. The race will begin beneath floodlights at 6 p.m. native time on Nov. 21 on the Losail International Circuit.
As the twentieth of twenty-two races this season, will probably be adopted by the inaugural Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah on Dec. 5 and the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP on Dec. 12.
“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,” F1 mentioned in a press release on Thursday.
“The vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the (soccer) World Cup in 2022 was the driving force.”
There won’t be a race in Qatar subsequent yr due to the World Cup so the 10-year deal begins the next yr.
The 5.4-kilometer (3.4-mile) circuit, which holds 8,000 followers, is north of Doha and has hosted the MotoGP sequence since 2004.
It will not be but clear whether or not Losail will proceed to host F1 from 2023, because the circuit will have to be altered, so there’s a sturdy chance one other location may very well be chosen. F1 mentioned solely that it was in discussions.
The cancellation of the Japanese GP set for Oct. 10 amid t he authorities’s coronavirus considerations triggered off adjustments.
The Turkish GP, initially slated for Oct. 3, took Japan’s slot.
Although the United States GP stays on Oct. 24, the Mexican GP moved from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7 and Brazil shifted from that date to Nov. 14.
“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,” F1 president Stefano Domenicali mentioned.
“The huge effort from all the teams, F1 and (governing body) FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22-race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year.”