Formula 1 is looking increasingly likely to add Qatar to the calendar for the first time in place of the Australian GP.

Autosport understand that confirmation of a first Qatar Grand Prix is incoming.

Originally the Australian Grand Prix was going to take place in November, pushed back from its original 2021 season-opener slot, though that Plan B also failed to materialise and the event was cancelled for a second successive season.

That left one vacant slot on the 23-race calendar, but this became two after the Japanese Grand Prix met the same fate, having also not hosted Formula 1 action since 2019.