Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The fastest street circuit on the Formula 1 calendar, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit delivers non-stop drama under the night lights of the Red Sea coast. Frighteningly quick, barely wider than the cars in places, and always on the edge of chaos.
Circuit Facts
About the Circuit
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit debuted on the F1 calendar in 2021, built along the seafront of Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city beside the Red Sea. At 6.174 km it is one of the longest circuits on the calendar, and its average lap speed of around 250 km/h makes it the fastest street circuit in the history of Formula 1 — faster even than Monaco or Singapore when measured over a full lap.
The circuit is defined by its extreme speed and minimal run-off. High concrete walls line almost the entire lap, meaning any mistake carries enormous consequences. The layout flows continuously through a long series of sweeping bends and short straights, with very little time for drivers to breathe. Visibility is limited through many of the blind high-speed sections, demanding exceptional trust in the car and near-perfect braking references.
Despite early controversy over its place on the schedule, Jeddah has produced some of the most dramatic races in recent F1 history, including the tension-filled 2021 title battle between Hamilton and Verstappen. Safety car appearances are common, given the proximity of the barriers, and late-race restarts often deliver the kind of edge-of-the-seat moments that define the best grands prix.
Key Corners
Four sections that define the unique challenge of Jeddah and shape race outcomes.
Turn 2 — The Blind Flat Bend
One of the most daunting corners in F1, Turn 2 is taken almost flat-out at extraordinary speed despite being completely blind over a slight crest. Drivers must commit before they can see the exit, making this one of the bravest moments in any qualifying lap and a defining feature of Jeddah’s unique character.
Turns 13–16 — High-Speed Sequence
A flowing high-speed left-right section in the middle of the lap where cars carry enormous momentum between the barriers. Even small setup imbalances are magnified here, and any oversteer at this speed risks immediate contact with the wall. Getting through cleanly is as much about mental commitment as mechanical grip.
Turns 22–24 — The Chicane Complex
A tighter sequence that interrupts the otherwise relentless pace of the lap, this chicane is one of the few genuine braking zones on the circuit. It is a regular site for late defensive moves and opportunistic overtakes, and drivers frequently misjudge the approach after carrying high speed from the preceding straight.
Turn 27 — Final Hairpin
The last significant braking zone before the start/finish straight, and the main overtaking opportunity of the lap. Cars arrive at speed from a long curving approach, brake hard for the tight hairpin, and exit onto the DRS-enabled straight. This corner regularly determines the battle order for the final few laps of a race.
Race Atmosphere
The Saudi Grand Prix has grown quickly in both stature and atmosphere. The main grandstand along the start/finish straight offers excellent views of the pit lane and the final sector, while hospitality facilities have been steadily expanded year on year. Travelling fans make up a significant proportion of the crowd, particularly from Europe, drawn by the spectacle of an ultra-fast night street race in an exotic location. Local fans bring genuine passion and the paddock atmosphere reflects the growing importance of the race to the F1 calendar.
Safety car periods are a near-certainty given the tight confines, and the resulting restarts — where drivers must navigate the field back to high speed with walls just centimetres away — almost always produce the race’s most dramatic moments. Few circuits guarantee intensity like Jeddah.
Tyre Strategy
Pirelli typically brings the Medium and Soft compounds to Jeddah, with the Hard available as an alternative. Despite being a high-speed circuit, tyre wear is often less severe than expected — the smooth tarmac and largely flowing nature of the lap mean mechanical stresses are different to a circuit with heavy braking zones. A one-stop strategy is frequently viable and is often the preferred approach, with teams choosing between a Medium–Hard or Soft–Medium run depending on their car’s characteristics.
Safety cars play a major role in disrupting planned strategies; teams that can quickly adapt pit stop windows to take advantage of VSC or SC periods tend to gain the most. The limited overtaking opportunities outside of the final hairpin place extra emphasis on qualifying position and in-lap timing.
How to Watch in the UK
Sky Sports F1
Live coverage of every session — practice, qualifying, and the race. Available on Sky TV, Now TV, and the Sky Sports app.
Channel 4
Free-to-air extended highlights of qualifying and the race. Available on Channel 4 and the Channel 4 streaming app.
F1 TV Pro
All sessions live with onboard cameras, team radio, and live data. Subscription required. Check local blackout restrictions.
Broadcast times vary by year — check our TV Schedule page for exact session times.
Previous Winners
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2024 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2023 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |