Jeddah governor inspects Formula 1 preparations
JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi conducted a field tour of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to inspect security preparations and arrangements for the STC Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The governor was accompanied by Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Company.
They toured the teams’ pitlane, paddock area, operations room, track and met team representatives, wishing them luck in the upcoming race, which begins on Friday.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, known as the fastest street circuit in the calendar, is hosting the race for the fifth consecutive year from April 18-20.
It is one of the most distinctive circuits, with 27 corners, more than any other circuit in the championship. The track extends over a distance of 6.176 km, and drivers face 16 left-hand turns and 11 right-hand turns while racing at astonishing speeds of up to 322 km per hour.
The circuit is famous for its streamlined design and narrow track, with three DRS zones that enhance the intensity of the competition and increase the excitement of the race.
Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural 2021 race but Red Bull have won the following three thanks to Max Verstappen in 2022 and 2024, and Sergio Perez in 2023.