Changes to the final part of the 2021 Formula 1 season calendar led to the addition of a new Grand Prix in Qatar. The country also closed a ten-year agreement to have a fixed position until 2032 .
17 years after the first MotoGP Grand Prix, Qatar will open the doors of the Losail Circuit to F1. As has happened with motorcycle races since 2008, next month’s car race will be held at night, taking advantage of the most favorable weather conditions and with the artificial lighting system.
Losail Circuit has rarely been used for motorsport competitions, seeing Asian GP2, Speedcar and the WTCC , but nothing as big as F1. This news was a great media coup for the State, which is also organizing the next World Cup, but some MotoGP riders did not like the idea.
“It’s good to see Formula 1 racing on the same circuits as us, it’s interesting,” commented Franco Morbidelli. “I really like Formula 1, I follow it everywhere, but seeing them drive on the circuits that we race on is even more impressive, because you can see the difference in lap times and the speed they can achieve in the corners. It’s really impressive, so it has a different flavor to see them racing on the tracks where MotoGP also races.”
Still, the Italian driver admitted: “My first thought was that there will probably be more bumps.” In this he agrees with several pilots.
“It’s bad news,” said Aleix Espargaró: “I love Qatar. I love the Qatar circuit, but Formula 1 destroys everything with its grip, so we’ll see. I’m happy for the people of Qatar, because they’re going to to be able to enjoy both MotoGP and F1, which is fantastic, but as for the track, it’s very flat right now, very good, and I hope they don’t destroy it too much.”
MotoGP riders have long complained about the irregularities caused by F1 on the asphalt of the tracks shared by both categories. Although some seem oblivious to this, possibly due to the type of setting, Barcelona can be cited as the most blatant example, as can the Red Bull Ring, with both circuits suffering the drivers’ wrath every year.
“It’s a shame, they are going to spoil this track for us too and they are going to make potholes on it,” Andrea Dovizioso also pointed out after the announcement of the next F1 Grand Prix in Qatar. “They go so fast in the corners that the asphalt suffers. For us motorcycle racers, it’s not good that 20 cars are on the same line as us. Having said that, if they try to do as many races as possible, it’s only fair that also go to Qatar”.
However, motorcycle racers can rest assured that F1 has so far only announced one edition of its grand prix at Losail, scheduled for November 19-21 , with future plans possibly involving the construction of another circuit. MotoGP will hold its next race in Losail 15 weeks after F1, from March 4 to 6, 2022, a Grand Prix that will mark the start of the championship like every year.
(Click on this link or on the photo to see all the winners of the MotoGP Qatar GP)
