The Qatar Grand Prix has been part of the MotoGP World Championship calendar since 2004, becoming the initial fixed test of the course since 2007, and the first night race in history a year later, which has made the unique Losail track a an emblematic installation of the two-wheel championship.
However, the cancellation last year of the Australian F1 GP opened the door for Qatar to host, for the first time on its circuit, a race in the highest category of motorsport, also closing a ten-year agreement, starting in 2023 , to be part of the F1 calendar.
The MotoGP planet received the news as a small ‘intrusion’, raising misgivings in some riders.
“It’s bad news,” said Aleix Espargaró after knowing the landing of F1 in Losail. “I love Qatar, but Formula 1 destroys everything with its grip, so we’ll see what we find.”
“I really like Formula 1, and seeing them drive on the circuits we race on is even more impressive,” Franco Morbidelli explained. “But the first thing I thought is that we will probably find more potholes.”
“It’s a shame, they’re going to spoil this track for us too and potholes are going to appear,” said Andrea Dovizioso . “The F1 cars go so fast in the corners that the asphalt suffers. For us it is not good that 20 cars go along the same line as us.”
No changes on the asphalt
Although the concerns of the pilots are supported by situations experienced in other circuits where car and motorcycle races are held, such as Austin , from Qatar they assure that there have been no “substantial” changes in the pavement, and that everything is ready to receive the first 2022 season race.
“All the MotoGP material arrived last week from Indonesia, and this weekend we will receive the Moto2 and Moto3 material from Spain, after the Portimao tests. The teams will start arriving on Tuesday,” the Spaniard explained to Motorsport.com . Juan Baquero , who faces his seventh year as director of the Qatar Circuit .
F1 race in Qatar, last year
Baquero was one of the key players in the quick organization of last year’s F1 Grand Prix, an opportunity to improve the facility.
“Compared to last season, the works on the new pit boxes (from 41 to 50) that were already used in the previous MotoGP Grand Prix on a temporary basis have been completed,” Baquero explains the improvements introduced.
“In response to FIM requirements, 5,000 square meters of astroturf (synthetic grass) have also been removed and replaced with asphalt, adding some extensions to the existing curbs. On the other hand, the paddock assembly will be a bit different from last year as some changes were made for Formula 1 and they have remained.
Also on the track some changes were made to make it suitable for F1.
“Basically, some investments were made in safety and homologation issues for the FIA, such as the protection barriers of the guard rails, LED signaling panels, etc., which remain on the circuit. Access to the pitlane was also changed, which It was different for F1. But for MotoGP it has gone back to the previous model, so there will be no changes compared to last year. On the other hand, we have some aesthetic surprises prepared on the track for this year”, advances the executive from Jerez.
The most delicate point of the circuit after the passage of F1 is the state of the asphalt, an aspect that those responsible for the circuit have taken into account.
“The asphalt of the circuit is the same since 2004, it has not been modified, it is an asphalt of excellent quality. In principle, and after the studies carried out, there has been no substantial change in it”, at the level of potholes or damage, Baquero reassures motorcycle racers.
“It is planned to renew the asphalt jointly with a global project to improve the facilities that is pending approval by the Government”, which is the final owner of the infrastructure.
What the F1 drivers did complain about was the Losail curbs.
“As with the asphalt, it is planned to do a renovation of all the curbs in the project pending approval.”
Far from being an inconvenience, Baquero believes that the arrival of F1 in Qatar, joining MotoGP, will allow the circuit to improve and grow.
“Formula 1 has also brought improvements for this year in terms of the spectator experience, we are preparing a spectacular Fan Zone, there will be concerts at the end of the activity on the track, “meet and greet” with the drivers and some other surprises”, reveals the Spanish executive.
The best photos of the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
