Qatar Airways has become the Global Partner and Official Airline of Formula 1 in a five-year deal that will see it retain that position through to the 2027 season.
In addition to the global partnership, Qatar Airways will also be the Title Sponsor of three Grands Prix this year: The Qatar Airways Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (May 19-21), the Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix (July 21-23), and the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix (October 6-8).
F1 returns to Qatar in October, and will be only the second time that it will held in the country after having made its debut there in 2021. In October, the Qatar race will be held at the Lusail International Circuit.
Overall, this season, Formula 1 will have 23 races across 21 countries and five continents.
“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 Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker.
To mark the partnership, Discover Qatar, the Destination Management Company of Qatar Airways, have begun offering tickets to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023. Discover Qatar have launched a range of hotel and ticket-inclusive packages for their global retail partners, which include Grandstand and Paddock Club tickets. All packages include a free entry pass to the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar taking place in Doha from October 5-14.
As part of its alliance with Formula 1, Qatar Airways Holidays will also offer a limited number of all-inclusive travel packages for global fans to travel to races around the world and take part in exclusive experiences such as pit lane walks, guided track tours and access to special events with appearances by F1 drivers. The Ultimate F1 Experience packages include return flights with Qatar Airways, premium hotel options, race tickets and additional experiences.
“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,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1.
The announcement of the partnership was made at an event in at Doha’s Lusail Boulevard earlier this week, that included a special appearance by the Qatari rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, former Red Bull Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, KTM MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa, stunt rider Mike Jensen, a Red Bull drift car driven by Abdo Feghali and a static display of an FIA World Endurance Championship Hyper car.
Apart from F1, Qatar Airways is the sponsor of several other sports teams and events. Its partnerships include FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern, Concacaf and CONMEBOL. It is also the official airline of the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Series, official airline partner of the United Rugby Championship, Global Kitesports Association and other disciplines including equestrianism, padel, squash and tennis.
