F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Race Information
- Course: Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Course Length: 3.84 miles (6.174 kilometers)
- Distance: 50 laps, 191.662 miles (308.450 kilometers)
- Date:
- 2023 Winner: Sergio Perez
- Course: Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Course Length: 3.84 miles (6.174 kilometers)
- Distance: 50 laps, 191.662 miles (308.450 kilometers)
- Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
- 2024 WINNER: Max Verstappen
🏆 Saudi Arabia GP Odds
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is one of the newest races added to the Formula One calendar, taking place early in the year, typically alongside the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite controversies surrounding the Saudi Arabia F1 event, including safety concerns due to conflicts in the surrounding areas, it has successfully hosted a couple of Saudi Arabian GP events.
Although it’s only the second race of the year, the Formula 1 standings can start to be impacted by the performance of teams and drivers. Ultimately, this will affect the Formula 1 odds, making the Saudi Arabia GP Odds a focal point for fans and bettors alike, eager to predict the outcomes in this thrilling start to the season.
| Driver | Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1.25 |
| Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 9.00 |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 12.00 |
| Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 15.00 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 21.00 |
| Lando Norris | McLaren | 26.00 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | 41.00 |
| Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 51.00 |
| Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 51.00 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | RB | 301.00 |
🚥 What Is the Jeddah Corniche Circuit?
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, set against the 30km coastal resort area of the ancient city of Jeddah, represents a significant addition to the F1 schedule and F1 races. This circuit is a blend of a temporary street track, featuring some permanent sections, designed by the Tilke company in collaboration with Formula 1’s own Motorsports team.
Interestingly, the design process included the use of Google Earth for initial layout explorations. Ross Brawn of Formula 1 has emphasized the circuit’s intent: to be a true racing circuit that challenges drivers with its fast, sweeping turns rather than the traditional street circuit’s tight, right-angled bends, aiming to avoid creating a “Mickey Mouse circuit.”
The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place in 2021, adding to the Middle Eastern leg of the Formula One season alongside Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. Unique to its region, like its counterparts, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is held under the glow of floodlights, adding a visually spectacular element to the high-speed challenge.
The circuit itself is renowned for being exceptionally fast, boasting average speeds around 250km/h, surpassing those at Silverstone and only trailing behind Monza -known as ‘The Temple of Speed’- in terms of velocity on the 2021 Formula One calendar. This distinction cements the Jeddah Corniche Circuit as the fastest street circuit in Formula One history. Furthermore, it features a record 27 corners, many of which are quick, flowing bends that guide drivers along the scenic Jeddah waterfront. This demanding layout, coupled with its speed and technical complexity, makes it a formidable challenge that drivers eagerly anticipate.
This circuit, with its stunning coastal location, offers a blend of high-speed straights and challenging corners, making it a highlight among Formula 1 races. As we approach the event, the Saudi Arabia GP Odds become a hot topic of discussion, reflecting the anticipation and strategic predictions of fans and bettors alike.
The circuit’s design not only tests the limits of the teams and drivers but also plays a crucial role in shaping the early dynamics of the championship standings. With each race, including the one at Jeddah, the Formula 1 schedule unfolds in a way that gradually reveals the potential title contenders, making every lap and every race critical to the season’s outcome.
F1 Weekend Schedule
F1 Championship:
- 7:30 a.m. ET – Practice 1
- 11:00 a.m. ET – Practice 2
F1 Championship:
- 7:30 a.m. ET – Practice 3
- 11:00 a.m. ET – Qualifying
F1 Championship:
- 11:00 a.m. ET – Race
| POSITION | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 7 | Ollie Bearman | Ferrari |
| 8 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas |
Current F1 Standings - 2023 Season
🏁 Saudi Arabia GP History & Highlights
The first Saudi Arabian GP was supposed to take place in November 2020. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural race was held in December 2021 as the second-last event on the F1 calendar.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who was also the pole leader, won the race, making it his third consecutive victory of the 2021 season. The win put him in a tie with Max Verstappen, who finished third in the F1 standings. This would set up a thrilling finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later.
The race was not without its share of controversies. Hamilton criticized Verstappen in post-race interviews, after colliding with the Red Bull driver for the third time in the Saudi Arabia F1 track. Verstappen, in turn, claimed F1 was “more about penalties than racing.”
In 2022, the Saudi Arabian GP was moved to the early part of the season. It took place after the Bahrain Grand Prix. Prior to the race, there were serious concerns for the safety of the event, since there was a missile strike that triggered a large fire just a few miles from the circuit. Key F1 personnel, like Hamilton, expressed concerns.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association held a 4½-hour meeting and cited “consequences of not racing” to continue with the race. Verstappen ended up winning the race, edging Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Circuit Information
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is built in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. It was advertised as the “fastest street track” on the Formula 1 Grand Prix and has simulated average speeds in excess of 160 miles per hour.
It is second only to Monza, the “Temple of Speed,” in terms of being the fastest. The track is also the second-longest in Formula One (only Spa-Francorchamps is longer.)
There are 27 turns on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, with the Turn 13 corner as the best place for fans to catch a glimpse of the action.
