Jeddah Corniche Circuit

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is located in Saudi Arabia. This high speed racetrack is located along the coastline and borders the Red Sea. The Saudi Arabia GP has been a part of the F1 calendar since 2021.

Carsten Tilke, son of world famous circuit designer Hermann Tilke, designed the track hosting the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. One lap around this venue takes 6.174 kilometers to complete and takes the drivers through a total of 27 corners. Yet, with the grip an F1 car has at its disposal, a large number of these bends can be driven at full throttle. 

‘The fastest street track in the world’ is a nickname for this location. F1 cars have clocked average speeds exceeding 250 kph over the course of a lap. The circuit also includes a massive lighting installation, making it yet another nigh trace on the F1 calendar.

Drivers must approach the Jeddah Corniche Circuit with some sensibility safety wise. Though it has received the mandatory FIA grade 1 status to host Formula 1 events, numerous drivers have voiced their doubts regarding its safety. This is mainly due to the many blind high speed corners that build up the racetrack.

As the drivers pass along the coast, long chicanes await. Turn 13 is probably most recognisable of the Jeddah Circuit. This is a long left hand hairpin with a massive grandstand alongside it, on top of that this corner also provides an excellent overtaking opportunity.

The final part of the lap consists of a long left hander, which can barely be considered a turn, flowing into a tight hairpin to round out the lap. This is a relatively dangerous spot, especially in qualifying when drivers reduce speed to not catch the dirty air of the cars in front. Visibility around the long bend, however, is tricky.

Thus far, barely any history is packed within this circuit. Considering there have only been four editions of the event, that is not illogical. 2021, however, is the most memorable of the bunch as this could have decided the world championship between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The Dutchman was unable to beat the Mercedes driver during the race, which lead to a title decider in Abu Dhabi. Between 2022 and 2024, it had become a Red Bull dominant racetrack. Perez managed to clinch first place in 2023, and Verstappen won the other two editions.

In 2021, Hamilton was in a championship battle with Max Verstappen. Saudi Arabia marked the second to last race of the F1 season. In qualifying the Dutchman had the perfect lap until he didn’t, his Red Bull hit the wall exiting the final corner. Lewis started first, Verstappen completed the front row. Controversy struck as the Red Bull driver launched an attack into turn 1, cutting the chicane and remaining in front of Hamilton. After the Dutchman was told to let the Mercedes back through, he massively slowed down in front of the DRS detection and Hamilton ran into the back of him. Lewis would pull through and win the race, which saw the seven-time world champion heading into the final race tied on points with Verstappen.

Since then, it could be said the F1 legend has not quite been up to pace in Jeddah. He only managed one other top five finish at the venue in 2023.