FIFA President Gianni Infantino took the FIFA World Cup trophy to the front of the starting grid at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix together with Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali and Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) President Jean Todt - on a day that coincided with the one year to go milestone for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. 

"Today was an important day not only for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but also for Formula One which enjoyed their maiden Grand Prix race at the Losail International Circuit in Doha," said the FIFA President, who also took the opportunity to support the initiative organised by the FIA and its 245 clubs to highlight the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims which is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year.

"Thanks to FIA President Jean Todt and Formula One Group CEO Stefano Domenicali for their friendship and for staging a truly fantastically-organised Formula 1 event in Doha, a testimony to everyone involved."

The FIFA President subsequently attended the unveiling of the Official Countdown Clock, powered by Hublot, showing now that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ tournament begins in under a year’s time. Prior to that, FIFA will stage the FIFA Arab Cup from 30 November to 18 December 2021, a crucial event to test almost all of the stadiums for the World Cup.