Lewis Hamilton in a file photo. (Image: Twitter)

F1 track statistics: All you need to know about the Losail Circuit

May 30, 2023May 30, 2023 Nilavro Ghosh

The Losail International Circuit, also known as the Lusail International Circuit, is a motor racing circuit located north of Doha, Qatar, just outside the city of Lusail. The track opened in 2004, named Losail International Circuit, to the inaugural 2004 Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix, won by Sete Gibernau, and was built in just under a year by 1,000 workers at a cost of US$58 million. The track is 5.418 kilometres (3.367 miles) long, with a main straight of 1.068 kilometres (0.664 miles). To prevent sand from encroaching on the track, it is surrounded by artificial grass.

Lusail added permanent outdoor lighting for night races in 2007. Musco Lighting’s lighting of the Lusail Circuit was the largest permanent venue sports lighting project in the world at the time, a distinction that now belongs to another Persian Gulf motorsport venue, the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The 2008 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix was the first night race in MotoGP history, taking place in March 2008. A GP2 Asia Series night race was held in February 2009. Losail was visited by the World SBK in 2005-2009 and 2014-2019, and by the WTCC in 2015-2017. The Qatar Grand Prix, the 20th race of the 2021 Formula One season, was held at the circuit.