Jeddah to remain Saudi Arabian GP venue until 2027

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is set to remain the venue for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix until at least 2027, the event's organisers have announced.

Jeddah held its first race in 2021 after Saudi Arabia had secured a ten-year contract with Formula 1.

It was expected that the venue would remain the country's circuit of choice for the first three or four years before F1's event would move to Saudi Arabia's brand new Qiddiya complex, a massive project that aims to become the Kingdom's capital of Entertainment, Sports and Arts, with a dedicated track and automotive center at its center.

However, Qiddiyah's completion has been pushed back by several years, which means that Formula 1 will extend its residency at Jeddah until at least 2007.

"It’s important that we future proof the Jeddah track," said Saudi Motorsport Company CEO Martin Whitaker.

"For this reason we have again been working with the FIA and Formula 1 to ensure that we have a circuit that will allow us to stage the sport in Jeddah while work begins on the track in Qiddiya.

"The Qiddiya automotive centre is being designed to lead the world in Formula 1 circuit design and entertainment.

"A unique and exciting project, Qiddiya will be a location that everyone will want to visit but right now and in the immediate future the focus and eyes of the world will be on Jeddah."

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Last year, F1 returned to a slightly revised track where changes were made to improve sight lines in several areas around 6.175km facility.

For next March's round of racing at the high-speed street circuit, further ameliorations to driver sight lines and safety have been implemented, including at the Turn 22-23 complex where modifications will reduce speeds through the sequence by approximately 50 km/h.

The year's event will take place two weeks after F1's opening race in Bahrain, but in 2024, Jeddah may well open the curtain on Grand Prix racing's season.

"This year Ramadan starts three days after our race but next year it moves to the earlier dates of March 10 to April 9, 2024," said Whitaker.

"Obviously, because of the sanctity of Ramadan it would be impossible to host a Grand Prix during that time, but ultimately any decision on the timings of the race next year is in the hands of Formula 1 and the FIA.

"We are waiting for clarification from the promoter and governing body with regards to our 2024 date. As usual this will not be announced until much later in the year."

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