Unknown terrain and clouded anticipation: Formula 1 in Qatar

Max Verstappen only knows the location of the next race from the screen. “I drove a bit in the simulator to know the curves. But it will be nice to finally see it in real life,” said the World Cup leader before the premiere in controversial Qatar.

On Sunday (15 p.m.) a motorsport premier class Grand Prix will take place for the first time in the host country of the 2022 World Cup. The fact that none of the stars have ever completed laps on the course creates even more tension in the long-time toxic duel between Red Bull driver Verstappen and defending champion Lewis Hamilton in the third to last race of the season. Clouded anticipation: exploitation and human rights violations The anticipation for this exchange of blows has dimmed. Qatar, the small country on a peninsula on the Persian Gulf, has been heavily criticized internationally for years for its disregard for human rights and the exploitation of migrant workers. Those in power have long been accused of trying to improve the battered image through extensive involvement in professional sports. Lewis Hamilton is considered a driver who also denounces grievances. © APA/afp / LARS BARON

Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, the president of Qatar's motorsport association, calls this a “groundbreaking long-term deal”. Qatar and Formula 1 – from his point of view, they belong together. The powerful decision-maker had already said that there would be no muzzle for the drivers. On Thursday, the official media rounds will show who actually uses it. Mercedes star Hamilton and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel in particular do not hold back when it comes to issues such as discrimination, oppression and other grievances. “I don’t think we should go to these countries and ignore what’s happening there,” said Briton Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix in the spring. “The Middle East is a good place to race.” Haas team boss Günther Steiner from Meran Formula 1 is convinced that it is doing the right thing by going to the Arab countries. From Qatar we continue to the next premiere in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and then to the season finale in the glittering world of Abu Dhabi. Next year the kick-off will take place again in Bahrain before heading to Saudi Arabia. “The Middle East is a good place for racing,” said Günther Steiner, team boss of the Haas racing team, before the trip to Doha. “These countries are up-and-coming and put a lot of effort into organizing these events.” In addition, it is still “warm when it gets cold in Europe,” said South Tyrolean Steiner: “If people are planning a vacation, it is a good place to travel there.”

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Unknown terrain and clouded anticipation: Formula 1 in Qatar

Formula 1 is stopping off in Qatar for the first time. Of course this is not without controversy. A completely unknown route awaits the drivers. A long-term contract ensures that they will soon be traveling to the rich emirate on the Persian Gulf every year.

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