Formula One officials have announced that Qatar will join the 2021 calendar for the 20th round of the season.
The race will take place from November 19 to 21, and will be followed by the first-ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the season closer in Abu Dhabi.
The inaugural Qatar Grand Prix will take place at the purpose-built Losail International Circuit, which is 22 miles north of the capital city of Doha.
The track, which was built back in 2004, features 16 turns and is frequented by MotoGP races.
Following the race this year, a longer-term deal with Formula One will run for 10 years from 2023.
Speaking about the new addition, F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said; “We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023.
“We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix.
“The huge effort from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22-race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year and something we can all be proud of.”
A statement released by F1 read: “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.
“The step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long term agreement.
“As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time.”
