The British newspaper, The Independent, published an article in which it indicated that Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali defended the decision to host races in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, despite criticism of the Gulf states’ human rights records.
Former Ferrari team principal Chase oversaw the contract agreement with both countries that will see them host the Grand Prix events for at least a decade.
Formula 1 defends hosting races in Qatar and Saudi Arabia after human rights criticism https://t.co/cd7Z1JIbAA pic.twitter.com/fvVphnQv4F
— SPORTS CIRCUS INT. (@SPORTSCIRCUSINT) November 17, 2021
The first races will be held this weekend in Qatar, and will take place at the Losail Circuit, which opened in 2004, Saudi Arabia will follow two weeks later with a race at a temporary circuit built on the coast of Jeddah on the Red Sea, before a permanent site is established for this purpose in the coming years. .
Domenicali believes that the presence of “Formula 1” in the Gulf countries is an opportunity for them to make significant progress. “Such an important change cannot happen overnight, it is a cultural change that will take time. But the timing will accelerate due to the fact that there are big events. It will play “Formula 1″ plays an important role in this regard,” according to the British newspaper, “The Independent”.
“If you look in a practical way at what they do, in terms of women for example, they have women in prominent positions, they work and respect the laws,” he added.
He continued, “I don’t think closing countries and saying we don’t want to be there will help the situation to improve. In fact, it will be the opposite. This does not mean that everything is fine, but what we do and what we sign is definitely going in the right direction.”