Qatar Airways to Be Official Airline of Formula 1 for 2024 Season

Formula 1 has announced the racing calendar for the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship after receiving approval from the World Motor Sport Council. The 2024 season will again feature Qatar Airways as Formula 1's official airline and global partner.

In February 2023, Formula 1 established a five-year partnership with Qatar Airways that would see the airline sponsor all races starting in the 2023 season. The global partnership also involves Qatar Airways being the title sponsor of three races in 2023. It is currently unknown if title sponsorship for these three races will continue for the next four seasons.

Qatar Airways sponsored the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from May 19 to 21 and will sponsor the Hungarian Grand Prix from July 21 to 23. The Qatar Grand Prix will take place at the Lusail International Circuit from October 6 to 8.

For the 2024 season, Formula 1 will have 24 races across 21 countries and five continents. The global nature of the racing calendar reflects the growing popularity of the sport among audiences worldwide. Qatar Airways sees Formula 1 as a way to expand the global connectivity that it offers by serving more than 150 countries on six continents.

Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said about the partnership in February: "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."

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, added in February: "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."

To celebrate the partnership, Qatar Airways hosted an event at Lusail Boulevard in Doha to inform the public about motorsport events happening in Qatar in 2023. The event featured representatives from the Qatari government, Formula 1, and other racing events sponsored by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
 

In addition to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix, Qatar will host the following motorsport events over the next year:

• Geneva International Motor Show Qatar from October 5 to 14
• Qatar Moto GP from November 17 to 19
• FIA World Endurance Championship in March 2024

Furthermore, Qatar Airways' destination management agency Discover Qatar will offer a variety of packages including hotels and tickets for the Qatar Grand Prix in October.

The 2024 Formula One World Championship will feature one race each in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, China, Monaco, Canada, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

The 2024 season will feature three races in the U.S. and two in Italy. Formula 1 made changes to the 2024 schedule to make the sport more sustainable, reduce logistical burdens, and provide a better experience for fans. These changes include organizing races by continent and hosting races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on Saturdays to accommodate fans that celebrate Ramadan.