F1 moves to Saudi Arabia, kicking off the weekend with the usual FP1 session. The first Free Practice session will take place in daylight, unlike Qualifying and the Race, which will occur at night with very different environmental and track conditions. The Jeddah circuit is one of the most challenging on the entire calendar, and for rookies it will be crucial to quickly find confidence and avoid serious mistakes. Follow the live coverage of FP1 of the F1 Saudi Arabian GP starting at 3:30 PM on Friday, April 19.
Track characteristics
The Jeddah circuit is a street track measuring 6,174 meters in length. It features 27 corners—11 right-handers and 16 left-handers. What sets this circuit apart is its high average speed, the second highest after Monza. Forecasts indicate fairly high temperatures, but wind should not be a threat in this case.
The twisty layout demands a very precise front end to avoid understeer. Teams aim to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiency due to the long straights and high speeds. In Bahrain, braking and traction were crucial, whereas here, performance in direction changes must be maximized.
Pirelli has chosen to bring the three softest compounds. In the past, we’ve seen one-stop races here due to low degradation, and this scenario may repeat this season. There will be a high rate of track evolution over the weekend, with each session offering progressively better grip. Note that Formula 2 and F1 Academy will also be running, which will further enhance this factor.
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