A late addition to the 2021 calendar, Formula One heads to the Losail International Circuit for the first time to contest the inaugural running of the Qatar Grand Prix.
The arrival of Qatar for 2021 fills the void left by the cancelled Australian Grand Prix, as F1 once again displayed flexibility in response to the fluidity of the global pandemic.
Known best for a long-standing affiliation with MotoGP, the Losail International Circuit was built in just under one year for the inaugural 2004 motorcycle Grand Prix.
The circuit features a main straight of 1,068 metres which is also the site of the track's sole DRS zone, making the run to Turn One the best overtaking opportunity of the lap.
Because the circuit was designed with motorbike racing in mind, the remainder of the lap is fast, flowing and dominated by medium and high-speed corners, making tyre degradation a key factor.
While the circuit is new to F1, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team can draw on the in-house experience of Reserve Driver, Nico Hülkenberg.
Nico took his maiden victory in the 2009 GP2 Asia Series at the Losail International Circuit, and still holds the qualifying lap record to this day: a 1.35.741, set during that same event.
This weekend's event marks the beginning of a new chapter for Formula One, which has signed a 10-year deal with the Qatar Grand Prix organisers, due to come into effect in 2023.
With Formula One suggesting a change of venue to be "likely", the Losail International Circuit may not remain on the calendar for long but remains an intriguing challenge for the teams this weekend.
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