As the Formula 1 circuit moves to the heart of the Middle East for the highly anticipated 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, teams and drivers prepare to tackle the challenges of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Known for its high-speed thrills and strategic complexities, this race promises to be a critical junction in the championship race, offering a unique blend of speed, skill, and spectacle under the floodlit Arabian night.
As F1 gears up for Jeddah’s night race, all eyes are on Verstappen. This crucial second race of 2024 could reshape the championship battle.
Following a Bahrain Grand Prix that proved to be a reality check for Max Verstappen’s rivals, Formula 1 heads to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the second of the 24 races of the 2024 season.
A night race on an ultra-fast street circuit, this event offers a chance to build on the initial insights gleaned in Bahrain. Similar to Sakhir, the FP1 and FP3 sessions will take place during daylight, specifically at sunset, while FP2, qualifying, and the race itself will occur at night.
The Circuit
Designed by Hermann Tilke and his team, the Jeddah Corniche circuit is set to be the second fastest on the calendar, trailing only Monza. The first sector features medium and fast turns, with some runoff areas that, however, could present challenges regarding track limits.
The second sector includes a banked turn and a rapid sequence of corners between the walls. Photographs from Jeddah suggest that a majority of SAFER barriers have been installed along these sequences.
Two slightly tighter corners – likely to be taken at around 250 to 270 km/h – are situated among other flat-out turns, leading up to the corniche around the lagoon.
This will be the second DRS zone, with the first located in the preceding fast sequence. The stretch around the lagoon is a long, full-throttle left curve with DRS, followed by a tight final turn.
Contenders
How could one envision anyone other than Max Verstappen as the favorite on the Jeddah circuit? Having already claimed victory twice in Saudi Arabia, the dominant winner of the Bahrain GP aims to continue his supremacy.
Behind him, Ferrari is expected to be the second force, hoping for a smoother weekend to challenge Sergio Pérez. Meanwhile, McLaren, on a circuit that should better suit the MCL38, particularly against Mercedes, will be one to watch.
Bahrain Grand Prix Schedule
Note! As in Bahrain, the weekend schedule runs from Thursday to Saturday, with media day on Wednesday for initial reactions. Moreover, this season’s start continues to feature late-day events, meaning the race and qualifying sessions will take place at 6 PM local time, two hours later than in Bahrain.
Saudi Arabian GP 2024 -Times for London
| Day | London Time | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 7th March | 11:30-12:30 | Free Practice 1 |
| 15:00-16:00 | Free Practice 2 | |
| Friday, 8th March | 11:30-12:30 | Free Practice 3 |
| 15:00-16:00 | Qualifying | |
| Saturday, 9th March | 15:00-17:00 | Race |
The complete list of winners of the Saudi Arabian GP 2024
| Year | Circuit | Winner | Team | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jeddah | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes |
| 2022 | Jeddah | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Honda |
| 2023 | Jeddah | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Honda |
Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP 2024 F1 Preview and Schedule. Saudi Arabian GP 2024 F1 Preview and Schedule
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