See the incredible Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah
The Kingdom has attracted many major motorsports events in recent years, including The Race of Champions, Dakar Rally, and Formula E, which has been held in Diriyah since 2018. Formula One will return to the Kingdom in 2023, here's everything you need to know:
The next Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is just around the corner, and it will take place this year along the Corniche in Jeddah. It is not the Kingdom's first race; the first took place in 2021. The event is said to be under contract until at least 2030.
Track Layout
The Hermann Tilke-designed circuit is Formula One's fastest street track, with an average speed of 250 km/h. It is the second longest street circuit on F1's current roster, stretching 6.175 kilometers. The circuit is the most thrilling in the world, with 11 right turns and 16 to the left and 50 laps.
The First Race
The world-class motorsport facility, which was built in a record-breaking 7 months, hosted the first Formula 1 race in Saudi Arabia in 2021. The facility, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, met the FIA Grade 1 standard required to host an F1 event. Lewis Hamilton took the victory at the end of the race.
Reception
According to the CEO of the Saudi Motorsports Company, Martin Whitaker, the Formula 1 event was one of the largest sporting events hosted in Saudi Arabia, and it resulted in the local community expanding and encouraging interest in the sport. It also increased car manufacturers' interest in investing in the Kingdom and its upcoming local and global events.
When and Where
The Grand Prix is held at night by the corniche around 20 kilometers north of the city center between the 16th and 19th of March, with King Abdulaziz International Airport serving as the closest airport.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/9Lk6Svt3CDjhyuDE8
2023 Race Details
This year the race will include the 2x world champion Max Verstappen who also won 2022’s Saudi Grand Prix and Sergio Perez with Red Bull Racing, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz with Ferrari, George Russell and 7x world champion Lewis Hamilton who won the first Saudi GP in 2021 with Mercedes, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly with Alpine, Lando Norris with McLaren, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu with Alfa Romeo, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso with Aston Martin, Kevin Magnussen with Haas F1 Team, Yuki Tsunoda with Alpha Tauri and Alexander Albon with Williams Racing. Three rookie drivers will also compete on the F1 Corniche Circuit this year; Oscar Piastri with McLaren, Nyck de Vries with Alpha Tauri and Logan Sargeant with Williams Racing.
The timetable is scheduled as follows: 17th of March is dedicated to two free practice sessions between 3:30pm and 8pm, the 18th will be a free practice session from 3:30pm to 4:30pm followed by the qualification race 7-8pm. The final race will take place on the 19th from 7pm to 9pm and will be determining the Saudi Grand Prix champion for the year 2023.
Accommodations
Because Jeddah is a popular tourist destination in the Kingdom, visitors will have plenty of options for accommodations during their stay. Radisson Blu, Ewaa Express, Sheraton, Al Bilad, and The Jeddah Edition are the closest hotels to the track. Prices are moderate to affordable, but may rise due to the event. There are also many bed-and-breakfasts in the area.
While in town, it’s a great opportunity to explore Jeddah’s top attractions. Al Balad also known as the Historic District is one of Saudi’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Floating Mosque and more are within short distance of the racetrack by the corniche and allow a glimpse into the city’s rich history.
Plan your trip to see the exciting races in Jeddah with Sana Tourism, we handle the setup of your trip from A to Z so all that’s left for you is to enjoy down time! Get in touch now to start.