Losail · Profile

Lusail International Circuit, also known as Losail, completed a full redevelopment in 2023 that raised its total capacity to 52,000 spectators, up from 8,000 when Formula One first visited in 2021. The work, carried out by Ashghal, Qatar’s Public Works Authority, added a new pit building with 50 garages, a media centre, a medical centre, hospitality areas and grandstands for around 40,000 people. The track lies on the outskirts of Lusail, north of Doha, and holds FIA Grade 1 status.

Construction and opening

Construction began in 2003 on desert land and took just under a year, with about 1,000 workers and a cost of US$58 million. The layout was drawn up by German architect Hermann Tilke. The circuit opened on 30 September 2004 with a 5.380-kilometre, 16-turn configuration that stayed in use until 2022. The 1,068-metre main straight is the fastest part of the lap and the main overtaking zone. Since 2023 the official length has been 5.419 kilometres.

Floodlights and the first night race

The Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix made its debut in 2004 and was won by Sete Gibernau on a Honda. In 2007 a permanent lighting system was installed so races could run after dark, away from the daytime heat that punished tyres and machinery. In March 2008 Losail staged the first night race in the history of the motorcycle world championship, which also opened the season; Casey Stoner won it on a Ducati. The Australian won in Qatar in 2007, 2008 and 2009 with Ducati and in 2011 with Honda. In February 2009 GP2 Asia also raced there under the lights.

Premier-class winners

Valentino Rossi won in 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015 for Yamaha, and Jorge Lorenzo took the 2012, 2013 and 2016 races for the same manufacturer. Marc Márquez won in 2014 on a Honda, Maverick Viñales in 2017, and Andrea Dovizioso in 2018 and 2019 on a Ducati. In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the MotoGP race, although Moto2 and Moto3 went ahead. In 2021 the circuit hosted back-to-back rounds: Viñales won the Qatar Grand Prix and Fabio Quartararo the Doha Grand Prix, with Johann Zarco second and Jorge Martín third for his first premier-class podium.

Superbikes and endurance

The Superbike World Championship visited Losail from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2014 to 2019; the 2020 round was cancelled. The FIM Endurance World Championship held the 8 Hours of Doha there from 2007 to 2012. In 2024 the FIA World Endurance Championship arrived with the Qatar 1812 km, a long-distance race for prototypes and GT cars.

Formula One

The first Formula One Qatar Grand Prix took place in November 2021 and was won by Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes, with Fernando Alonso third for Alpine. There was no race in 2022, the year the country hosted the football World Cup. On the return in October 2023, Max Verstappen sealed his third world title in the Saturday sprint and went on to win on Sunday. The Dutchman won again in 2024 and 2025 for Red Bull. The race lap record on the current layout belongs to Lando Norris, who set 1:22.384 for McLaren in 2024.

MotoGP after the redevelopment

Enea Bastianini won for Ducati in 2022, the last edition before the works. In 2023 the event moved to the closing stretch of the calendar and Fabio Di Giannantonio took his first MotoGP victory. Francesco Bagnaia won in 2024 and Marc Márquez in 2025, both on Ducatis. In 2026 the win went to Marco Bezzecchi on an Aprilia.