Formula 1 has confirmed Qatar will fill the final vacant slot on the 2021 calendar on November 21, as well as signing a 10-year deal from 2023.

The Losail International Circuit is famed for hosting MotoGP races since 2004, but will host its inaugural F1 event later this year.

Following the cancelation of the Australian Grand Prix for a second consecutive year, F1 chief’s analysed its options to find a replacement venue to join the schedule.

Qatar’s inclusion will see it form a triple-header with Mexico and Brazil, before the season ends with the first-ever Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on December 5 and  the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 12.

Aside from its addition to this year’s calendar, Qatar will host F1 races from 2023 after agreeing an additional 10-year deal, with further details on a location for the race to be provided in due course.

A statement from F1 said: “There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed and agreed for 10 years.

“The step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long term agreement.

“As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time.”

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Qatar’s authorities for arranging the grand prix in such a short space of time.

“We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023,” Domenicali said.

“The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and Authorities have been incredible and have moved at great speed to ensure the race can take place this season at the Losail Circuit, famous to many as the host of MotoGP.

“We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix. The huge effort from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22-race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year and something we can all be proud of.”

Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, president of Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, added: “This is a very special day for Qatar Motorsport and our nation’s ambitions as a host of major sporting events.

“I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support Formula 1 by stepping in and hosting a race in our country in such a short time frame, while also securing a ground-breaking long term deal with F1.

“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. 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.”