Qatar Airways, the world’s best airline, on Wednesday, announced that it would be the global partner and official airline of Formula 1 (F1) in a multi-year deal from 2023 after the departure of Emirates.
Qatar Airways and F1 will be partners through the 2027 season, bringing thrills and exciting speeds to fans globally.
With Qatar hosting a grand prix in 2021 and signing a long-term deal from 2023 and beyond, it became easy for F1 to sign up Qatar Airways as its airline partner where the company will also sponsor the races in Emilia Romagna, Hungary, and Qatar.
Outside that, the deal will see trackside digital branding and also offer fans a chance to buy a limited number of travel packages to select grands prix including Qatar. There will be a focus on sustainability as well in terms of fuel use.
The announcement of Qatar Airway’s sports partnership portfolio expansion was made at a captivating event that brought astounding entertainment and special appearances to Doha.
To commemorate this partnership, Qatar Airways hosted a special evening for the public at Doha’s iconic Lusail Boulevard to raise awareness about all the motorsport events taking place in Qatar this year.
The event featured a special appearance from the Qatari rally champion Nasser Al Attiyah, Formula 1 President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali, former Red Bull Formula 1 driver, David Coulthard, KTM MotoGP rider, Dani Pedrosa, a Red Bull drift car driven by Abdo Feghali and a static display of an FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar. Spectators were also treated to a dazzling performance by the best-selling R&B artist, Akon.
In addition to the global partnership, Qatar Airways will be the title sponsor of three Grands Prix this year: 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).
This season, Formula 1 boasts of the most global racing calendar to date with 23 races across 21 countries and five continents, mirroring the motorsport’s rapidly growing footprint worldwide and the extensive global connectivity offered by the Qatar Airways oneworld Alliance, which serves over 150 countries.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said, “The best partnerships thrive because of mutual values. Both Qatar Airways and Formula 1 are global brands that share a passion for innovation, precision, and luxury. 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.”
“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,” he said.
Formula 1President CEO Stefano Domenicali said, “As the pinnacle of motorsport, it makes sense for Formula 1 to partner with the world’s best airline, Qatar Airways. We are two brands committed to delivering the best experiences to our fans and customers, and our combined global reach makes for a perfect match. We are delighted to welcome Qatar Airways as our Global Airline Partner.”
On his part, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannaisaid, “We are pleased that Qatar Airways is joining as the Global Partner and Official Airline of Formula 1, as well as a title sponsor for both Formula 1 Grand Prix Qatar and Qatar MotoGP. We strongly believe that this partnership will place Qatar at the forefront of the motorsport ecosystem by hosting such prestigious events, in addition to positioning the country as a global hub for sports and entertainment tourism. This will contribute towards pushing the wheel of our society’s growth and development and will pave the way for tremendous business and investment opportunities.”
For only the second time in history, motorsport fanatics will have the chance to watch their favourite teams and drivers push their cars to the limit at the Lusail International Circuit when F1 heads back to Qatar for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix on 6-8 October, 2023.
In addition to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023, the Lusail International Circuit will host the Qatar Moto GP on 17-19 November. Other motorsport events in Qatar include the Geneva International Motor Show in October 2023 and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship in 2024.
To celebrate this partnership, Discover Qatar, the destination management company of Qatar Airways, is the first to offer tickets to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023. To mark the occasion, Discover Qatar has exclusively launched a comprehensive range of hotel and ticket-inclusive packages to their global retail partners, which include Grandstand and prestigious Paddock Club tickets. 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.
Qatar Airways Holidays further elevates the partnership with a limited number of all-inclusive travel packages, allowing global fans around the world to attend the event and partake in exclusive experiences such as pit lane walks, guided track tours, and access to special events with appearances by top F1 drivers.
The Ultimate F1 Experience packages include return flights with Qatar Airways, premium hotel options, race tickets, and other exciting experiences and benefits.
Both Qatar Airways and F1 are committed to working together to reduce the environmental impact of their respective industries through responsible practices. As part of the partnership, both entities aim to collaborate on sustainability-focused initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and strive for a greener future.
