Races on the Arabian Peninsula are becoming more and more common.
Formula 1 will be driving in Qatar for the first time at the weekend.
Not only the heated world championship fight between Verstappen and Hamilton is in focus.
Doha - Three races before the end of the Formula 1 season, challenger Max Verstappen is just 14 championship points ahead of defending champion Lewis Hamilton.
The race premiere in Qatar is on the program on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky).
In the run-up to the event, however, the rich desert state on the Persian Gulf is not just about the sporty side.
Will Hamilton have an advantage again after his Brazil win?
Maybe not, but the Mercedes star has every reason to be confident that he will be the number eight world champion.
Last weekend in South America was his toughest, judged the 36-year-old against the background of a true series of penalties.
But at the same time it was “definitely one of the best weekends, if not the best weekend I've experienced in my entire career”.
Hamilton thrilled with sensational drives and seems more than ready for a highly dramatic season end spurt.
Is Verstappen striking back with the maiden win in Qatar?
Nobody can really say that, because none of the drivers know the course north of Doha sufficiently.
There doesn't seem to be a clear favorite.
So far, testing has only been possible in the simulator, and on Friday the 5.38-kilometer route will take place for the first time.
The weekend is under floodlights.
So far, there had only been races for the motorcycle world championship on the Losail International Circuit since 2004.
Because it was not possible to drive in Australia due to the corona situation, Qatar stepped in at short notice.
How bitter is the title duel in the final spurt?
It is clear that neither Mercedes nor Verstappen's Red Bull team can offer anything from their long-term rivals.
The Silver Arrows protested on Tuesday against a decision by the race stewards in favor of Verstappen in Brazil.
A review of the tough duel at the Grand Prix on Sunday when Verstappen pushed Hamilton off the track was subsequently requested.
Mercedes cited the appearance of new evidence as the reason for the objection.
If Verstappen is subsequently punished, he could possibly slip backwards in the racing standings and thus lose more points to the lurking world champion.
Is there still a one-off trip to Qatar for Formula 1?
No.
A ten-year contract has already been signed, but this will only apply from 2023. In the coming year, the entourage will not travel to the desert state because the soccer World Cup will then take place there.
After that, however, the World Championship run is a permanent fixture on the calendar.
"The vision that Formula 1 should be the flagship for Qatar after the 2022 World Cup was the driving force behind the long-term commitment," said Formula 1 itself after the long-term agreement was signed.
Will the subject of human rights be discussed before the Grand Prix?
At least that's what Amnesty International wants and appealed: "The drivers and their teams should be ready to draw attention to human rights in Qatar in the run-up to this race." in criticism.
There will be no muzzle for the drivers, everyone should also express themselves critically on any topic, according to the local organizers.
It seems possible that Hamilton and ex-world champion Sebastian Vettel will comment on the situation around the emirate at the official press conferences on Thursday.
dpa
