With two weeks to go until the first Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix kicks off, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is set to finally be completed, with not a moment to spare.
Work on the track began in April of this year, and will be completed just ahead of the race at the beginning of December.
This is in fact the shortest amount of time an F1 circuit has ever been constructed, making it a huge milestone for F1 and Saudi Arabia, especially given the constraints of summertime construction and Covid-era restrictions.
Overall, the Promoter collaborated with 3,000 on-site contractors from approximately 50 separate companies. While many of these partners are Saudi Arabian, the event organizers also utilized support of suppliers from countries such as Germany, Austria, the UK, Spain and Italy. Standards from Formula 1 and their monitoring consultants were applied.
Developed in partnership by the Tilke Engineers and F1’s own Motorsports Division, the circuit design has made strong use of the long, sweeping roads along the Corniche area, utilising this feature and existing roads as much as possible along the narrow stretch of coastal land within the confines of the general infrastructure, resulting in one of the most unique and challenging circuits yet to feature in Formula 1.
The circuit has many exciting features, including a record-equalling number of turns (27 in total: 16 left and 11 right), in addition to three potential high-speed DRS sections and a 12-degree banked corner at Turn 13 that seems to be the odds-on favourite feature.
The track in Jeddah’s Corniche area on the Red Sea, approximately 12km north of the city centre. It has a track length of 6,175 km making it the second longest circuit on the calendar after Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and the longest street track in F1, with average speeds expected to reach 252km/h, the fastest street circuit on the calendar, with highest speeds expected at 322km/h between turns 25 and 27.
After construction is complete, 2,000 trees will be planted. A staggering 600,000 tons of cement, 30,000 square meters of bricks, and more than 1,400 tons of glass were used to make the circuit. The circuit designers are also extending the popular Corniche walkway along the circuit and populating it with a series of outdoor recreational opportunities for children and adults including new walkways and cycling paths, children’s playgrounds as well as the establishment of family friendly restaurants, public restrooms, increased parking spaces and much more.
Justin Bieber, A$AP Rocky, David Guetta, Tiësto, Jason Derulo and Hamaki are set to perform.
Tickets are still available here.