The third longest track on the race calendar is entering its third year of Formula 1 at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.
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Circuit Stats
| Track Length | 6.174km |
| Number of Laps | 50 |
| Race Lap Record | 1:30.734 (Lewis Hamilton – 2021) |
| Qualifying Lap Record | 1:27.511 (Lewis Hamilton 2021) |
| First Grand Prix | 2021 |
| First Race Winner | Lewis Hamilton |
| 2023 Race Winner | Sergio Perez |
Circuit History
Saudi Arabia has had involvement with Formula 1 since the late 1970’s. The Saudia national airline forged sponsorship deals with the Williams team. Aramco became a major sponsor for the sport as a whole. It was only a matter of time before discussions would turn to the Kingdom holding a Formula 1 race.
Initially, it looked as if a new purpose-built facility in Qiddiya would be the outright favourite to host F1 in Saudi Arabia. The project was announced in 2019. Conceived by Test & Training International (headed by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz), the plan was to create a circuit capable of hosting all FIA categories, including Formula 1. The project is still going ahead, but eyes had turned to a completely different venture. In 2020 the announcement was made that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix would take place in Jeddah.
A Street Circuit Is Born
A street circuit designed by Carsten Tilke (son of famed circuit designer Hermann Tilke) was to be built on the Jeddah Corniche, adjoining the Red Sea. Located 12km north of the city centre, the unique land space provided wide, sweeping roads and a coastal panorama. Construction began just over eight months before the inaugural race was scheduled. 3,000 on-site contractors from 50 different countries being drafted in to ensure that the circuit was ready.
It wasn’t just the track itself that needed to be completed on this tight schedule. The garages, paddock and seven grandstands also needed to be added to the venue. In total, it took 37,000 tons of asphalt, 600,000 tons of cement, 30,000 square metres of bricks and 1,400 tons of glass to build. Work was being completed right down to the last possible moments, but the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was born. The first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place on 5th December 2021. It became the fifth full-night race on the calendar, joining the likes of Singapore, Bahrain, Sakhir and Qatar.
Named as the “fastest street track” on the Formula 1 calendar, drivers can average around 250km/h (160mph). Jeddah is the third longest track on the racing calendar, with only Spa-Francorchamps and Las Vegas being longer. It features 27 turns and 3 potential DRS detection zones, providing plenty of opportunities for drivers to gain an advantage and overtake their rivals.
The Race At Risk?
In 2022, the race was in jeopardy after Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile attack on the Aramco oil depot, located just 16km (10 miles) from the circuit. The massive explosion could be seen during the first of two practice sessions, and the level of risk for the race was clear. Many drivers expressed their concerns over the safety of the event. There were lengthy meetings that lasted several hours, including discussions with drivers, team principals, the Saudi government and security agencies. It was ultimately decided that the event would continue and the race went ahead as planned.
Iconic Moment
For the entirety of the 2021 season, Hamilton and Verstappen were locked in an intense championship battle. After several dicey incidents earlier in the season, the drama continued in Saudi Arabia. On lap 37 of the race, Verstappen ended up running off the track at Turn 1 to defend from Hamilton.
The inevitable call came for the Dutchman to back down. He was ordered to hand the position back to Lewis, and so Verstappen hit the brakes as they entered the final corner. However, Lewis was caught out by the slow-moving car ahead. He had not been told that Max was letting him past, and ran into the back of the Red Bull. Verstappen had hoped to strategically comply with his given orders (as it would have inevitably provided him with DRS down the start-finish straight). Hamilton commented that Verstappen had “brake tested” him.
Whilst the stewards accepted that both drivers “could have done more” to avoid the collision, Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty and two penalty points on his license. This was the result of the stewards deeming that he was more at fault due to breaking “suddenly and significantly”.
What’s your iconic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix moment? Let us know in the comments!