The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second stop in the Middle East and one of the youngest and fastest tracks on the Formula 1 calendar, is just around the corner.
The Jeddah Corniche circuit, which hosts the fifth race of the season, promises strong emotions. Red Bull has dominated on this circuit, but will McLaren and Oscar Piastri be able to maintain their good performance? Or will Ferrari and Mercedes spring a surprise?
The weather forecast for the weekend is hot and dry, with radiant sunshine and temperatures ranging from 33°C to 28°C.
Featured News
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia is interested in acquiring an F1 team, in addition to hosting a Grand Prix. On the other hand, Sebastian Vettel praised Lando Norris, considering him a role model. However, McLaren’s boss, Andrea Stella, believes that Norris is too self-critical.
Furthermore, concerns are growing at Red Bull about the possible departure of Max Verstappen at the end of the year. Stefano Domenicali, head of F1, has hinted that the Imola race could disappear from the calendar, in a year with 24 races.
Circuit Statistics and Details
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, located on the shores of the Red Sea, is a temporary street circuit designed by Hermann Tilke’s company. It is one of the fastest on the calendar, second only to Monza, and has 27 corners.
- First race: 2021
- Number of laps: 50 laps of 6.1 km (308 km in total)
- Lap record: 1:30.734 – Lewis Hamilton (2021)
- Most wins: Verstappen (2)
- Most poles: Pérez (2)
It’s a street circuit on steroids.
Max Verstappen
What happened last year
Last season, Verstappen dominated the race, followed by Pérez and Leclerc. Verstappen briefly lost the lead under a safety car, but managed to recover.
Race Predictions
McLaren could still be the team to beat. With their current performance, Piastri is a strong candidate for victory. George Russell from Mercedes is also expected to perform well.
This is how the championships are
Norris leads the championship, although Verstappen is close, only eight points away. McLaren dominates the constructors’ championship, with a 58-point lead over Mercedes.
How to watch the Grand Prix
The race will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+ (USA only). In the UK, live coverage will be on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live.
For news, analysis, and updates, follow the F1 team’s coverage from Alofoke Deportes.
Schedules (BST – British Summer Time):
- Friday: Free Practice 1: 14:30-15:30 BST; Free Practice 2: 18:00-19:00 BST
- Saturday: Free Practice 3: 14:30-15:30 BST; Qualifying: 18:00-19:00 BST
- Sunday: Race: 18:00 BST (pre-race from 17:15 BST)
Stay tuned to Alofoke Deportes for more coverage of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
