F1 announces first-ever Qatar Grand Prix as controversial 10-year deal sealed

Qatar will host its first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix later this year following an announcement regarding the 2021 season on Thursday.

A revised calendar was announced for the 2021 season last month after the race in Japan was cancelled, with the venue for the Grand Prix on November 21 remaining a mystery.

It was mooted that Qatar would be the most likely host country, considering the need to balance climate needs in winter in the northern hemisphere with logistical concerns.

Now it has been confirmed that the Arab country will host the race at the Losail International Circuit on the outskirts of Doha, one week after the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos and two weeks before the season-ending double-header of Saudi Arabia followed by Abu Dhabi.

And it will be a regular fixture of the F1 calendar from 2023, after Qatar hosts the 2022 football 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," a statement from F1 read.

"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.

"As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time."

However, ongoing human rights issues in the middle eastern country have led to the partnership with F1 being slammed by Amnesty International.

The organisation has called on F1 drivers to speak out about the decision.

A spokesperson told the Daily Mail : "It's no secret that rich countries in the Middle East see top-level sport as a means to rebrand and sportswash their images, and a Grand Prix in Qatar would be more of the same.

"Having sunk vast amounts of money into Paris Saint-German and hired thousands of overseas workers to build stadiums for next year's World Cup, Qatar is clearly attempting to turn itself into a sporting superpower.

"Qatar's human rights record is extremely troubling – from the country's longstanding mistreatment of migrant workers, to its curbs on free speech and its criminalisation of same-sex relations.

"Formula One should insist that all contracts pertaining to this race contain stringent labour standards across all supply chains.

"Drivers and their teams should be prepared to speak out about human rights in Qatar in the lead-up to this race, doing their bit to break the spell of sportwashing and image-management."

Formula 1 responded by saying it had "worked hard be a positive force everywhere it races".

"We take our responsibilities very seriously and have made our position on rights clear to all our partners and host countries who commit to respect our responsibilities in the way their events are hosted and delivered," it added.

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