The fifth round of the Formula 1 season brings us to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second race in the Middle East and held at one of the newest and fastest circuits on the calendar.
This weekend, Formula 1 is in Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, concluding the first triple header of the year.
Red Bull has been very successful at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, winning three of the four races held there. However, McLaren and Oscar Piastri have shown strong performance recently. Will they continue to dominate, or can Ferrari and Mercedes catch up?
The weather forecast for the weekend predicts hot, dry, and stable conditions in the desert, with sunny skies, highs of 33°C, and lows of 28°C.
Latest News
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Saudi Arabia`s Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal is considering owning a Formula 1 team, in addition to hosting a grand prix.
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Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel described Lando Norris as a `real role model`, emphasizing that Norris`s public self-criticism is a strength. However, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella believes Norris is being too harsh on himself, suggesting he is `not yet fully comfortable` with the car.
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There are growing concerns within Red Bull, according to advisor Helmut Marko, that Max Verstappen might leave the team at the end of the current season.
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Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hinted that the Imola race in Italy might be removed from the calendar. It`s unlikely Italy will continue to host two grand prix events given the increasing number of locations vying for a spot on the 24-race schedule.
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Get the latest race preview by listening to ESPN`s F1 podcast, Unlapped, featuring Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson from Jeddah.
Circuit Stats and History
Located on the Red Sea coast, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a temporary street track designed by Hermann Tilke`s company, a renowned F1 circuit designer. It is one of the fastest circuits, second only to Monza, and features a massive 27 corners.
Introduced to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021, it is among the newest races, similar to Miami and Las Vegas, which are also street circuits. Like other races in the Middle East, it is held at night under floodlights.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
First race: 2021
Laps: 50 laps of 6.1km. Total distance 308km
Lap record: 1:30.734 – Lewis Hamilton (2021)
Most wins: Max Verstappen with two (2022, 2024). Hamilton (2021) and Sergio Perez (2023) have also won here.
Most poles: Perez has the most poles with two (2022-2023). Hamilton (2021) and Verstappen (2024) have also started from pole here.
What makes it special: The world`s fastest street circuit, featuring high-speed corners and close barriers.
Driver`s perspective: `It`s incredibly fast, like a street circuit on steroids.` — Max Verstappen
Best viewing spot: Turn 22 grandstand. Offers a view of the tightest section of the track with a mosque in the background.
Last Year`s Race Recap
Red Bull dominated the beginning of last season, with Verstappen winning the race, followed by his teammate Perez, who had won in Jeddah previously, and Charles Leclerc in third place.
Verstappen briefly lost the lead to Norris after a safety car was deployed due to Lance Stroll`s crash, but it was a minor setback for Verstappen.
Race Predictions
McLaren is expected to remain the top-performing team, and considering his current form, Piastri is a strong contender for victory again. George Russell of Mercedes is also expected to continue his team`s strong performance and could achieve another podium finish.
Championship Standings Overview
Norris commented after the Bahrain Grand Prix, `Everyone says I`m leading the championship, I`m not sure how at the moment.` However, his four podium finishes and one victory explain his lead, albeit a narrow one.
Verstappen is closing in, trailing by just eight points despite having a car that might not be as fast currently.
McLaren is significantly ahead in the constructors` championship with 151 points, with Mercedes in second place, 58 points behind.
