Qatar GP

F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023

The Qatar Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar in 2023 after making its debut in 2021.

Following its first appearance, the event was missed off the schedule in 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup taking place in the country.

Now the Grand Prix is back in the line-up for 2023, two years on from its last running.

History

Formula 1 travelled to Qatar for the first time for Round 20 of the 2021 World Championship. The race was held at the Losail International Circuit on 21 November, two weeks prior to the sport's debut trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Losail International Circuit is a permanent venue located just outside of Lusail, north of Doha. Opened in 2004, the circuit is known for its MotoGP races, though touring cars have raced there as well.

Coming in at 5.380 kilometres in length, the circuit features a long start/finish straight, as well as a mixture of medium and high-speed corners. There are also overtaking opportunities going into Turn 1.

Whilst the race was absent from the F1 calendar in 2022, it will return in 2023, with Qatar having signed a 10-year deal to host the sport from them onwards. The future venue for the event has yet to be confirmed.

The 2021 Qatar Grand Prix

Qatar's debut appearance on the Formula 1 schedule came as the 2021 title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen continued to heat up in the final stages of the season.

Hamilton took pole position, whilst Verstappen qualified second but was pushed down to seventh after being handed a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow for double yellow flags. Valtteri Bottas was also handed a three-place penalty for not respecting a yellow flag.

It was a good start from Hamilton, who was able to build up a lead. Bottas was forced into his first pit-stop on Lap 33 when he appeared to suffer a puncture, and there were also tyres issues later in the race for the Williams duo of George Russell and Nicholas Latifi.

Fernando Alonso found himself running in third in the latter stages of the event, and Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon tried to help the Spaniard maintain his position by putting in some defensive driving in fifth.

Up ahead, Hamilton took a debut F1 win in Qatar, with Verstappen in second, whilst Alonso hung on to claim his first podium since 2014.

When is the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix on the F1 calendar?

The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 6-8 October, and is set to be the 18th race of the Formula 1 season. The first free practice session will take place on 6 October, followed by qualifying at 15:00 BST.

There will then be another practice session on Saturday 7 October before a Sprint is held at 15:30 BST.

What time does the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix start?

The Qatar Grand Prix starts on Sunday 8 October at 15:00 BST. The race can be followed live on RacingNews365's blog.