Aleix: Qatar F1 'bad news, cars destroy everything!'

Aleix Espargaro hopes the newly-announced arrival of F1 to Qatar's Losail International Circuit later this year won't have a detrimental effect on the track surface.

Losail has been home to the Qatar MotoGP round since 2004, becoming the sport's first and so far only night race from 2008.

“This exciting agreement means that Qatar will be the home of both Formula 1 and MotoGP for the next decade, which are the pinnacle events in global motorsport," said Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, President of Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF).

"We have a proud motorsport history and this is the next chapter for us. Qatar will be a great destination for F1 and we look forward to welcoming all the drivers, teams, media and fans very soon.”

F1 has signed an 11-race deal with the QMMF which will see the country's inaugural F1 race held on the evening of November 21, in place of the cancelled Australian round.

Qatar will then skip the 2022 F1 season (but remain on the MotoGP calendar) due to hosting the football World Cup. F1 will return to Qatar in 2023 and take place for the next 10-years until 2032.

But while this year's F1 race is confirmed at the Losail circuit, it is not clear where it will be held from 2023, amid rumours of a possible street circuit.

Aprilia star Espargaro certainly wouldn't be upset if the F1 cars make only a single appearance at Losail.

"Bad news!" Smiled Espargaro of the F1 deal. "I love Qatar. I love that circuit and Formula One cars destroy everything due to the downforce! So let's see.

"I'm happy for the Qatari people because they will be able to enjoy MotoGP and Formula One, which is fantastic.

"But regarding the track, it's very flat now, very good. And I hope that they will not destroy it too much."

While Qatar has lost its usual MotoGP pre-season test for 2022, due to a visit to Indonesia's new Mandalika circuit, Losail will again start next year's racing season.