Formula One extends contract with Abu Dhabi to 2030

[December 09, 2021] (Reuters) - The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be staying on the Formula One calendar until at least 2030, the sport announced on Thursday ahead of the season-ending title-decider at Yas Marina.

The race is one of four in the Middle East, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia making their debuts this year on long-term contracts and Bahrain an established fixture.

Abu Dhabi first hosted Formula One in 2009 and is one of the most lucrative races for commercial rights holders Liberty Media.

"We are delighted to confirm that we will be racing in Abu Dhabi until 2030 under this new agreement," said F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali.

Mercedes' seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen are tied on points going into Sunday's final race.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)

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CEO of the Formula One Group, Stefano Domenicali during a press conference to announce that Qatar will host a Formula One Grand Prix for the first time on November 21 REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari