Qatar joins current F1 calendar amid controversy
Oct.1 - Qatar has emerged as the official replacement for this year's axed Australian GP.
But the deal, which had been expected, could actually be a long-term blow for the beleaguered Melbourne race, with Australia struggling amid a deep covid-related political crisis and facing an uncertain future on the calendar.
Formula 1 has announced that the Losail circuit in Qatar won't just host a grand prix this year - but for ten more years after that starting in 2023.
"There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed and agreed for 10 years," a statement read.
The news has upset Amnesty International, who are also opposed to the new Formula 1 race in neighbouring Saudi Arabia over alleged human rights abuses.
"Qatar's human rights record is extremely troubling," the group now says, "from the country's longstanding mistreatment of migrant workers to its curbs on free speech and its criminalisation of same-sex relations.
"Formula One should insist that all contracts pertaining to this race contain stringent labour standards across all supply chains."
Another political issue playing out in real time regarding Qatar relates to covid vaccines.
Some media have reportedly been briefed that only fully vaccinated attendees in November will have freedom of movement.
"One of the questions the Qatar ministry of health is asking is what percentage of personnel will be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to the date of the Qatar GP," a letter to F1 media, purportedly from Formula One Management, reads.
The email goes on to suggest that vaccinated people will be able to "choose their own hotels and leave the hotels in evenings for dinner", while unvaccinated media will be confined to their hotels that are "selected by the government".
"We are hopeful the F1 community will fall into the first category but we must provide the information to (Qatar) first," the FOM letter adds.
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I don't have an issue with Qatar joining as a regular from 2023, although I hope Losail would stay long-term.
"Qatar's human rights record is extremely troubling," the group now says, "from the country's longstanding mistreatment of migrant workers to its curbs on free speech and its criminalisation of same-sex relations.
Built by migrant workers on less pay and worse conditions than the Arabs, but look isn't it a wonderful place....and the crowds great said Lewis
Come on Seb and Lewis , speak up here, yeah right, they'll be as quiet as mice no doubt,
Yeah, they don't lose their tongues about other issues. F1 warning and threat???
Also, it's frightening that the Aussies might be in jeopardy and replaced by more sand dune racing. This feels scary.
tbf - saudi's are probably enjoying more freedom atm anyway!
Can we just race and leave the human rights out of that? Human rights are being violated almost everywhere on this planet. China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, USA, etc, etc.
Lewis is only vocal on BLM. Races for a team that got rich with Jewish slave labor 75 years ago, but wants Americans to make reparations for slavery 160 years ago.