A guide to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit

Saudi Arabia is keen to make an impact on the sporting landscape and, as part of those plans, has put together the fastest street circuit Formula 1 has ever seen, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

With drivers averaging 250km/h, Jeddah is the second quickest track on the F1 calendar, second only to the ‘Temple of Speed’, Monza. 

As well as being fast, the circuit’s 27 corners is the most the drivers will encounter all year, helping one of F1’s newest circuits stand out from the crowd.

Although it’s only been on the schedule a short while, Jeddah has quickly developed a reputation for chaotic races with world title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen infamously clashing in the inaugural race in 2021.

Sadly, the clock is already ticking on the Jeddah Corniche’s time on the F1 calendar as construction on a new facility at Qiddiya continues, but the venue looks likely to leave a lasting impression.

Jeddah Corniche Circuit stats

Opened	2021
First F1 race	2021
Lap length	6.174 km (3.83 mi)
F1 lap record	1:30.374 - Lewis Hamilton (2021)
Number of corners	27
DRS Zones	3

Where is Jeddah Corniche Circuit?

When it was revealed Qiddiya wouldn’t be ready to host a race for some time, Jeddah stepped in to offer its services.

After some research via Google Maps, F1 and the Tilke company settled upon using the city’s coastal resort, the Corniche - 12km from the centre of Jeddah.

Stretching for 30km along the coast, racing through the Corniche offers a view of the Red Sea and the outskirts of Jeddah, all with the sun setting in the background with the race run mainly at night. 

When was Jeddah Corniche Circuit first built?

Having only been confirmed as the host of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2020 and with the track layout unveiled in March 2021, organisers faced a race against time to get the circuit finished ahead of the first race in December 2021.

Work on the venue only began in April of that year and while many of the facilities are temporary due to it being a street circuit, construction of a pit building, paddock area and the laying of the track surface still needed completing.

All the vital aspects were finished in time, although some non-essential facilities weren’t completed before race weekend, while work has since been carried out on the circuit to bring it up to scratch, including amending poor sight lines in places.

Jeddah Corniche Circuit track length

At 6.174km, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is the second longest track on the Formula 1 calendar, only bested by Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps (7.004km).

Although the track is long and features a season-high number of corners, the high-speed nature of the track means a lap doesn’t last all that long.

In the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, laps were lasting a little over 90 seconds with drivers at full throttle for nearly 80% of a lap.

When did Jeddah Corniche Circuit first host an F1 race?

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit made its Formula 1 debut in 2021, hosting the penultimate race of the season in December of that year.

The track is expected to remain the home of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix until at least 2027, after which the race is scheduled to be moved to a permanent track at Qiddiya.

Does Jeddah Corniche Circuit host any other events?

Despite being a street circuit and only a temporary home for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, several other classes of motorsport have used the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

F2 and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East both use the venue currently, while the World Touring Car Cup paid a visit in 2022.

GT and GT4 racing also visited Jeddah in 2024.

How to Buy Tickets for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?

Tickets for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix can be purchased through the official Formula 1 website, authorised ticket vendors, or at the Saudi Arabian GP official website.

Prices and availability vary based on seating preferences and the different event packages that are also available.