Qatar Airways is set to take over the status of the official airline sponsor of Formula 1 motor racing from Emirates, as announced prior to the upcoming 2023 season. Emirates, based in Dubai, had been the primary airline sponsor for Formula 1 for the previous ten years.
1. Formula 1’s official airline
Qatar will host a Grand Prix for the next ten years, starting with the race in October, which will now be known as the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix. The airline will be the title sponsor of The Qatar Airways Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (19-21 May), the Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix (21-23 July), and the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix (6-8 October).
As a brand, we believe in the power of sports to unite people, and as such, we have been selective with picking the most thrilling sporting events and sponsoring a variety of new and prominent sporting initiatives.
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive
“With 23 stops in the 2023 World Championship, F1 is a global sport, requiring a Global Airline partner that offers extensive global connectivity. Hence, Qatar Airways demonstrates the perfect companion for one of the most desirable sports series in the world,” said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive.
Qatar Airways will now add Formula 1 to its extensive list of global sports sponsorships, which already includes FIFA World Cup, and the Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain football clubs. “We strongly believe that this partnership will place Qatar at the forefront of the motorsport ecosystem through hosting such prestigious events, in addition to positioning the country as a global hub for sports and entertainment tourism”, said Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al-Mannai, Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation’s (QMMF) President. According to him, the partnership will contribute to the society’s development and ‘will pave the way for tremendous business and investment opportunities’.
2. Celebration
To mark the introduction of this alliance and to increase public knowledge of all the motorsport events taking place in Qatar this year, Qatar Airways organised an evening for the general public along Doha’s famous Lusail Boulevard. The official cooperation was launched by the Minister of Sports and Youth Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali, QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, and MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
Qatari rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, former Red Bull Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, KTM MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa, stunt rider Mike Jensen were special guests at the event. Akon, the top-selling R&B artist, gave a performance for the audience.
Lighting up the streets and skies of Qatar! 🎆✈️
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2023
F1 and @qatarairways launched their new partnership in style, with an F1 car roaring down Lusail Boulevard 😍🙌#F1 pic.twitter.com/5CZHNcwTaI
On November 17–19, the Qatar MotoGP will take place at the Lusail International Circuit in addition to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023. The Geneva International Motor Show Qatar in October 2023 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship in 2024 are two additional motorsport events that will take place in Qatar.
3. Special offers
Discover Qatar, the Destination Management Company of Qatar Airways, is the first to offer tickets to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix in 2023 as a way to honour this partnership. Discover Qatar has now introduced a wide selection of accommodation and ticket-inclusive packages, including Grandstand and prestigious Paddock Club tickets, exclusively for their international retail partners. All packages include a free entry pass to the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar taking place in Doha from 5-14 October, courtesy of Qatar Tourism.
By offering a limited number of all-inclusive travel packages, Qatar Airways Vacations enhances the collaboration and enables fans from across the world to visit the event and take part in exceptional experiences including pit lane walks, guided track tours, and access to special events with appearances by top F1 drivers.
