Picture Credit: Twitter/@F1
F1 has announced that it will be holding a race in Qatar for the first time ever in November this year. The Losail International Circuit will be the venue for the main race that will take place from November 19-21. The Qatari circuit is most famous for holding the MotoGP series since 2004. Apart from hosting this year’s race, Qatar has also signed a 1-year deal starting from 2023.
"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 step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long-term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long-term agreement,” read a statement from F1.
So, since a four-wheeled race is being held for the first time, let’s learn everything about the Qatar Grand Prix.
When is the Qatar Grand Prix?
The Qatar GP will be held over the weekend of November 19-21. It will be the third triple-header after Mexican GP and Brazilian GP. The Qatar GP will be then followed by Saudi Arabian GP and Abu Dhabi GP.
Where will it be held and what is the track like?
Losail International Circuit will be the track that will be used to hold the inaugural edition of the Qatar Grand Prix. The 16-turn track, which is 5.380km long, has hosted multiple MotoGP over the years but this will be the first time it will see four-wheeled racing. This track was built in 2004 and has not been resurfaced since then. So, the drivers will be worried about tires being weary.
Will it be a night race?
A decision in the same has not been taken yet by the officials. However, if it will be a day race, the temperature will be typical mid-eastern, hot, and humid. Moreover, the track has the capability to host a night race with 3,600 bulbs dotted around 1,000 structures across the circuit.