Qatar Grand Prix: Formula 1 to stage first race in country amid controversy

The 2022 season will see the first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix in Qatar, 26 years after it was originally awarded to them. This has been a controversial decision for F1 fans and pundits alike as the country is surrounded by controversy with regards to its treatment of migrant workers and LGBT+ people

The “bbc news” is reporting that the Qatar Grand Prix will be staged for the first time in country amid controversy. The race, which will take place on April 28, has been criticised by human rights groups and opposition politicians.

The Qatar Grand Prix was confirmed by Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali towards the end of September.

With three races remaining in the enthralling 2021 Formula One season, the sport will go to Qatar this weekend.

For the first time in Formula One history, the state will host a race.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull enjoys a 14-point lead over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton as he tries to prevent Hamilton from capturing a record-breaking ninth drivers’ championship.

Hamilton’s confidence would have been strengthened by his victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo on Sunday, despite two penalties.

Last weekend, Hamilton was 21 points behind the Dutchman when his car’s rear wing was found to be in violation of regulations, and he was banned from qualifying despite being the quickest.

After a separate five-place grid penalty for exceeding the allowed number of engine components, he was forced to start at the rear of the 24-lap “sprint” race, finishing sixth to start the grand prix 10th.

However, Hamilton pushed his way through the top ten and beat Verstappen with 12 laps to go for his first victory since the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, a performance praised by 1996 world champion Damon Hill as “one of the finest drives I have ever seen in F1.”

‘A lot of things may still happen,’ says the title.

There are still 78 points available in the last three races – 25 for a race victory and a point for the best lap – so if Verstappen wins in Qatar and Hamilton finishes second, the Dutchman can finish second in the following two races and still win the championship.

After Qatar, there will be a week free before the season-ending travels to Saudi Arabia (5 December) and Abu Dhabi (12 December).

“We’re still up by a lot of points,” Verstappen remarked. “It was damage control on a weekend when things were a little tough for us, but I’m optimistic we’ll bounce back.”

“It’s been like this the whole year [in the championship race]. It moved up, down, behind me, and back in front of me, so a lot may still happen.”

With three races remaining, Max Verstappen (left) leads Lewis Hamilton by 14 points.

Why did you choose Qatar?

The event will be held at Losail International Circuit, 20 miles outside of Doha, and will fill the void caused by the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix.

Qatar will not host a race in 2022 because to the football World Cup it will host in November and December, but it has agreed to a 10-year contract to remain on the Formula One calendar starting in 2023.

According to an F1 statement, Qatar “had a strong desire to assist F1” and their “goal for F1 to be the showcase following the World Cup was the driving reason” behind the hefty deal.

Qatar’s long-term commitment to Formula One, according to FIA president Jean Todt, is “another proof” of the country’s “great enthusiasm for sport.”

Amnesty International UK, on the other hand, claimed it was additional proof of the country’s “sportswashing” and asked F1 drivers to call attention to the country’s dismal human rights record.

“It’s no secret that affluent governments in the Middle East regard top-level sport as a tool to rebrand and sportswash their images, and a grand prix in Qatar is more of the same,” Amnesty International UK head executive Sacha Deshmukh said.

How does the music sound?

Both F1 qualifying and the race on Sunday begin at 17:00 local time, ensuring another fantastic spectacle under the lights, similar to the MotoGP in Qatar.

The 5.4-kilometer track was completed in 2003 and has held MotoGP races every year since 2004, with the exception of 2020, when it was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It is said to be a fast and flowing circuit with a lot of mid and high-speed turns.

The main straight makes up more than a kilometer of the track’s length, providing plenty of passing possibilities entering Turn One.

This season, Verstappen and Hamilton have collided twice and battled wheel-to-wheel countless times, and Qatar might provide even more spectacular action this weekend.

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The “Qatar Grand Prix: Formula 1 to stage first race in country amid controversy” is a story about the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix in Qatar. The event has been criticized for being held during Ramadan, which may cause some issues for Muslim drivers. Reference: f1 2018 standings.

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