Jeddah track receives further tweaks

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which hosts the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, will be undergoing a host of updates ahead of the race in March next year, after announcement by the event organisers.

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The track, which debuted at the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, had already undergone a couple of changes prior to the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The track has been criticised by a number of drivers for its visibility issues and tight layout. Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez has stated in the past that the track is “the most dangerous place in the calendar”, while former Haas driver Mick Schumacher has also called out the track, asking for changes following his high-speed crash during the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The changes that the track will see are:

• The high-speed left-right sequence at Turns 22 and 23 has bevelled kerbs and the fence placement adjusted in order to reduce speeds by almost 50 km/h.

• Turns 14 and 20, which were two fast blind corners, have had the fences pushed back so that the corner opens up more to provide better visibility for the drivers. The right-hand side wall at Turn 14 has also been pushed back by 7.5 metres, while the left-hand side wall has been moved by 5 metres.

• Bevelled kerbs have been added at Turns 4, 8, 10, 11, 17 and 23 to reduce speeds and these bevelled kerbs will be replacing the steel kerbs.

• Turns 3, 14, 19, 20 and 21 will also have new “rumble lines”, which have been added in hopes of keeping drivers from running wide and also slow them down a bit.

• The fence walls at the Turn 8 right-hander and the Turn 10 left-hander have also been changed in order to improve visibility.

Martin Whitaker, Chief Executive, Saudi Motorsport Company, commented:

“The evolution of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit continues apace and we are excited to add these further tweaks to our magnificent track as a result of positive consultation with the FIA, F1 and the drivers. The previous two races here in Jeddah have already confirmed the JCC as the world’s fastest and most exciting street circuit and these new developments will only add to the spectacle that fans can expect to see next March when F1 returns to our city.

“It is vital for any circuit to listen and learn from those racing on it and use their feedback to grow and improve at all times. We are confident these changes will lead to even faster, more exciting and – crucially – safe racing and we can’t wait to see the world’s greatest drivers battle it out here under the lights again in 2023.“

All the changes have been made following consultation with the FIA, Formula One and the F1 drivers