"Formula One to stage first Qatar Grand Prix in November before 10-year deal," 30 Sep 2021

Qatar will stage its first Formula One grand prix in November to fill the slot left vacant by cancellation of the Australian GP. The race will take place at Losail International Circuit, 20 miles outside Doha on 21 November, with Qatar scheduled to join the F1 calendar in a 10-year deal from 2023...

Formula One has inevitably faced claims of sportswashing, with human rights issues under scrutiny in the Gulf state, and Amnesty International immediately called on the sport’s drivers to speak out against human rights abuses in the run-up to the GP...

Amnesty International UK’s CEO, Sacha Deshmukh, said: “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"...

An F1 spokesperson said: “For decades Formula One has worked hard to be a positive force everywhere it races, including economic, social, and cultural benefits. Sports like Formula One are uniquely positioned to cross borders and cultures to bring countries and communities together to share the passion and excitement of incredible competition and achievement. We take our responsibilities on rights very seriously and set high ethical standards for counterparties and those in our supply chain, which are enshrined in contracts, and we pay close attention to their adherence.”