Last weekend, all eyes were on Saudi Arabia. The 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix brought all the joys and drama one can expect from a hotly-contested Formula One race, and in its third edition, the event fully came into its own, offering both a world-class racing environment along with A-list entertainment talent to cap things off, cementing the Kingdom as one of the world’s premiere sporting destinations.
For Saudi photographer Talal Afandi, who was on the ground all weekend, the transformation was clear.
“The atmosphere was amazing. The fans were amazing. It was surprising to me to see how big Formula One has gotten here in Saudi Arabia, as well as how many people from across the world are excited to visit us and take part,” says Afandi.
The Sunday night headlining act was none other than Travis Scott, one of the world’s most popular artists, who drove an energy unlike anything Afandi had ever seen.
“It was my first time seeing a crowd like this. There was so much energy, and it was all for Travis. Some people were absolutely desperate to see him in a way I’ve never experienced,” Afandi adds.
“Overall, this experience was amazing.”