CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Click the image for a larger version of the circuit map

DETAILS

Jeddah

Saudi Arabia

Tel:

Fax:

Official website:
https://www.saudiarabiangp.com/en

STATISTICS (PRIOR TO 2024)

Length:

6.174km (3.836miles)

Race laps:

2023 winner:

Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

Configuration:

Anti-clockwise

First GP:

2021

Lap record:

1:30.734 (Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2021)

Type:

Street

Total races:

BIOGRAPHY

In January 2020, officials in Saudi Arabia revealed their plan for a purpose-built racing circuit with the aim of hosting a round of the Formula One World Championship by 2023.

Only a year earlier, Ross Brawn had dismissed talk of a race in the Arab state due to "human rights issues" and the conflicts of the previous year.

As ever in F1, however, money talks..

The proposed Qiddiya circuit, which had been designed by former F1, WEC driver and GPDA chairman, Alex Wurz, would form part of an ambitious sports and entertainment facility, which, in addition to the circuit, would include an indoor and cliff-top stadium, shops and a luxury hotel.

The facility was to form part of Saudi Vision 30, the Crown Prince's ambitious plan, first announced in 2016, to diversify the economy, making it less dependent on oil while at the same time promoting culture and lifestyle in a bid to boost tourism.

Speaking at the unveiling of the proposed circuit lay-out, which saw Nico Hulkenberg 'drive' the track in a simulator, Chief executive officer, Mike Reininger told BBC Sport that the circuit would be ready in time to host an F1 race in 2023.

"We're building a facility in the hope there will be a deal struck and there is a race here in Saudi," he said, though he admitted that officials were "not specifically engaged in talks with F1 day to day" which are "mostly being driven by the general sports authority and the motorsports federation".

"We're building a facility in the hope there will be a deal struck and there is a race here in Saudi," he said, adding that "the formalisation of a race is not for us at Qiddiya. It is outside the confines of the project itself. But we are building a facility that will be able to host a really world-class event as one of the signature items we will have on offer here at Qiddiya as we open in 2023.

"We are actually building a series of facilities both on-circuit and off-road in one aggregated place which really hasn't been assembled anywhere else in the world like this. The centrepiece for us is going to be the Grade One circuit."

In November of the same year, it was announced that a night race would be held in November 2021 on the streets of Jeddah, the event to be the first of a long-term partnership between Formula 1 and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF).

By an extraordinary coincidence, just 24 hours earlier, F1 announced a $104m (£78.6m) loss for the third quarter of the year as the effects of the pandemic continued to hit.

The loss, which compares to a $44m (£33.2m) profit for the same quarter in 2019, followed Q2 2020 which saw revenues drop from $620m (£470m) in 2019 to just $24m (£18.2m).

Weeks later, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was officially confirmed as part of Chase Carey's 23-race plan for 2021.

The inaugural event, scheduled for December 2021 will mark its arrival in style with drivers expected to reach average speeds of 250km/h, making it the fastest street circuit in the world - and in the top 5 fastest F1 circuits altogether. Indeed, they are projected to reach top speeds of up to 322km/h as they race towards Turn 27.

Featuring no less than 27 corners, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit stretches to 6.175km in length, making it the second longest circuit on the current F1 calendar behind Spa-Francorchamps and the longest street circuit in the sport.

Additionally, 3 consecutive sections of the circuit have been marked out as potential DRS Zones, while the race will take place at night under lights, which, according to the organisers, "will only add to the amazing atmosphere F1 fans can expect to experience".

Jeddah

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

DETAILS

Jeddah

STATISTICS (PRIOR TO 2024)

BIOGRAPHY

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