On the unique and lightning-fast street circuit in Jeddah, the Italian company has decided to bring the three central compounds of its range, namely the C2 (hard), C3 (medium), and C4 (soft). Since overtaking is not straightforward, qualifying is crucial, and to perform optimally, it is fundamental to prepare the tires well during the warm-up lap.
Just a few days after the season opener in Bahrain, Formula 1 moves from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea for the second race scheduled from Thursday, March 7, to Saturday, March 9. While the straight-line distance between the permanent circuit of Sakhir and the city circuit of Jeddah is approximately 1,260 kilometers, the technical characteristics of the two tracks are vastly different.
Transitioning from a track characterized by highly abrasive asphalt, where thermal degradation is particularly significant, and stability during braking and traction are crucial factors, to a relatively smooth asphalt and an ultra-high-speed track (over 250 km/h on average), second only to Monza.
With its 6,174 kilometers in length, to be repeated 50 times, the circuit has a notably sinuous layout, making it the second-longest on the calendar but the first in terms of the number of corners (27), many of which are navigated at medium and high speeds, subjecting the tires to significant lateral forces. Similar to Bahrain, both qualifying and the race will take place in the evening (at 20:00 local time), with temperatures considerably lower than those experienced during the Thursday and Friday practice sessions.
Following the pattern of the three previous editions of this race, Pirelli has chosen the three central compounds for the race: C2 as Hard, C3 as Medium, and C4 as Soft. Another difference from Bahrain is the race strategy. Last Saturday, we saw that the vast majority of drivers made two stops, with three pit stops as the only plausible alternative. In Jeddah, a race based on a single pit stop is highly predictable, with drivers alternating between Medium and Hard based on their starting grid positions.
Being a street circuit, the run-off areas are quite limited, and the risk of accidents is relatively high, with a corresponding chance of seeing the safety car on the track or even witnessing an interruption. Overtaking is not particularly straightforward, with the easiest point being the braking zone of turn 1.
As often happens on street circuits, the evolution of the track will be rapid, and in qualifying, it will be crucial to choose the ideal moment to set a quick lap time. Optimal launch lap preparation will also be vital: in previous editions, it has been observed that drivers often completed two launch laps before bringing the Soft tires to the right temperature, potentially leading to traffic-related challenges.
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In addition to the second race of the Formula 2 season, the Jeddah circuit will witness the debut of the F1 Academy for the first of seven events, all coinciding with a Grand Prix, in the all-female championship of which Pirelli is the Official Tyre Partner for the second consecutive year. The company thus strengthens its commitment alongside young drivers to facilitate their professional growth and provide a broader range of opportunities leading them to the pinnacle of their specialties—often, as seen in the past, racing on Pirelli tires.
All cars in the race will use 13-inch Pirelli P Zero DM tires, the same ones used in the previous season and in all Formula 4 series for which Pirelli is the supplier. The P Zero DM is designed to maintain a consistent performance level even with high mileage, allowing the competing drivers to develop their driving sensitivity before facing the typical tire wear variables in major championships. Each driver will have access to 14 dry tires (three and a half sets) and 8 wet tires (two sets) for each race weekend.
There are several novelties for the upcoming season. The fastest driver in the qualifying session will receive the Pirelli Pole Position Award, represented by a scaled replica of a P Zero tire, similar to the tradition in Formula 1. Those celebrating a podium finish will wear the classic Pirelli podium cap, but in purple—a limited edition for the series.
Starting this year, F1 Academy becomes one of the preparatory championships for traditional junior categories, as the top five drivers will earn points for the FIA Super License. The series can also be considered a platform for local drivers who now have the opportunity to participate as Wild Cards in a single round.
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