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Qatar states its F1 ambitions

Qatar could soon be ready to join the Formula One calendar after FIA president Jean Todt visited the Arab emirate.

It already hosts MotoGP races at the Losail circuit, and modifications are taking place there with the aim of it hosting F1 races.

"F1 one is part of our future plans," Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation president Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah told the Gulf Times. "Once everything is in place the track will be evaluated by the safety commissioner and then the track will be licensed for official F1 testing. After that we will be ready to be part of the F1 circuit."

The FIA's Charlie Whiting is scheduled to arrive in Qatar in the days following Sunday's season-opening Bahrain grand prix.

"We will do what Whiting will suggest," al-Attiyah said. "We shall fulfil all F1 requirements before we bid for a race."

"It's easy for Qatar to host an F1 race," Todt said. "It's a commercial matter that has to be solved by the F1 body (FOM) and the local organisers. We already have two F1 races (Bahrain and Abu Dhabi) in the Middle East. It will be a welcome addition if Qatar also gets it."

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