Chloe Targett-Adams, Global Race Promotion Director for Formula 1
Doha: Qatar is set to host its first-ever Formula One race at the iconic Losail Circuit Sports Club (LCSC) under lights on Sunday, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton locked in a gripping title fight.
The Formula One Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix 2021 will be the first event following an 11-race landmark deal between the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and F1 last month. Qatar will also play host to 10 F1 races from 2023 to 2032.
Last weekend, Hamilton cut Verstappen’s title lead to 14 points with a superb victory at Sao Paulo Grand Prix, making the upcoming battle at the LCSC a must-watch event.
As the race approaches, The Peninsula spoke to the Global Race Promotion Director for Formula 1, Chloe Targett-Adams, who predicted an exciting battle among the drivers on Sunday.
Targett-Adams also praised QMMF’s effort to organise the race on a short notice after the cancellation of Australian GP, helping the FI achieve its target of a 22-race season.
Following are the excerpts:
Q: Formula One is coming to Qatar for the first time. What does it mean to you as a Global Race Promotion Director?
It is fantastic, and we can’t wait to be in Doha for the first-ever Qatar Grand Prix, which could have a huge say in the world championship battle. As a global sport, we are always looking for new opportunities and exciting venues to bring F1 to, and thanks to the 10-year deal we have signed, we look forward to Qatar being an important part of the calendar for the next decade.
Q: Qatar has a proud motorsport history, hosting the MotoGP since 2004 apart from other events. How confident are you about the success of Formula One Ooredoo Qatar Grand 2021?
It is always exciting visiting a new circuit because, from a racing perspective, it’s a track that the drivers and teams have never driven on, which means we have new challenges for the drivers which can lead to an unpredictable race. The drivers will have seen the track on TV and driven it in the simulator, but being on track is a different beast, and we hope the drivers’ lack of familiarity with the circuit will set things up for an action-packed race to entertain our fans.
Q: How do you see the preparations for the Formula One Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix 2021?
The promoter team has worked incredibly hard on very short time scales, in great collaboration with our team, to deliver the event, and we know that Qatar has experience in stepping in to host events at short notice. Given the timings in place, it might feel a bit like a one-off race, although really it is only the start of an exciting partnership that we believe will grow and continue to innovate for many successful future events from 2023 onwards. We look forward with excitement to unveiling the future plans with the promoter in due course for our next Formula 1 races in Qatar.
Q: Formula 1’s President and CEO Stefano Domenicali during a press conference here said slight modifications are required at the Losail International Circuit to host the F1, what are the updates on that?
The Losail Circuit is already a first-class track with international credentials, and with the help of the promoter, we’ve been able to expand the seating capacity to reflect the demand for tickets, as well as upgrading the facilities to meet the FIA Formula 1 standards. We’re confident that all drivers, teams, and spectators will have a fantastic experience during the race weekend.
Q: Qatar is hosting this year’s event to fill in for the cancelled Australian Grand Prix. It was a challenging task to ensure the race in a short time. How do you see QMMF’s commitment in making it possible?
We are, of course, very grateful to those at the QMMF for stepping in and helping us ensure that we were able to put on a full race calendar for the 2021 season. We know Qatar has expertise of this nature, and that, combined with the country’s state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and successful COVID-19 response plan, has meant they have been well placed to host COVID-secure events when needed throughout the pandemic.
Scuderia Ferrari's Monégasque driver Charles Leclerc arrives at the HIA in Doha ahead of this weekend's Formula One Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix.
Q: This year F1 calendar includes four stops in GCC countries – Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. How do you see this development?
We know there is huge potential in the region for not only F1, but for the teams, their drivers and all partners involved in the sport, to tap in to a young and engaged audience in the market. It’s a big year for us as we look forward to racing in two new locations in the region, in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and our races in the Middle East are always big events on the F1 calendar and we know there is increasing demand from fans in the region. Each of the races in the Gulf will bring something special to Formula 1, and we believe the races bring benefits to not only the individual countries, but also to the wider region.
Q: What role Qatar can play in promoting F1 in the region as the country will be the stop for 10 more events from 2023 onwards?
Just like in other parts of the world, Formula 1 has seen resurgence in popularity in Qatar, and this is in part thanks to our more expansive approach to content and how we engaged with our audiences, at every level. Much of the renewed interest has been come from the Netflix series - Drive to Survive, but also from our increased presence on social media, of which we know the audience in Qatar, and wider Middle East region, is very engaged in. We’ve had a hugely captivating season this year, but we are also looking to an exciting new era of F1 in 2022 as we bring in new cars and new regulations, that will allow the cars to follow each other more closely and bring even more competitive, wheel-to-wheel action.
Q: Qatar as you know will be hosting the FIFA World Cup next year. The country has played host to many other global events like the World Athletics Championships in 2019. How do you see Qatar’s role in promotion of sports in general?
It is an opportunity to bring these sports to a new audience, inspire the next generation to get involved at a grassroots level, whether that’s in motorsport or sport more broadly. Hosting elite sporting events, like F1 and the FIFA World Cup, allows Qatar to support further efforts to drive investment and diversify the economy in the country.
