F1 race at Saudi Grand Prix to be one of last ever as plans for future emerge
THIS season’s Formula One race at the Saudi Grand Prix is set to be one of the last ever.
The epic desert showdown usually takes place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
It remains a favourite with fans for its thrilling turns and straights.
Last year saw Max Verstappen take top spot on his way to another world title.
And F1 drivers are now preparing to storm the course yet again when they take to the track in Jeddah this weekend.
However, it will soon prove to be one of the last-ever races at the venue.
That’s because Saudi chiefs are nearing completion of a new mega-course in a different part of the country.
The new Saudi F1 track will be based in Qiddiya, located just outside Riyadh.
The city is being billed as the nation’s official entertainment and tourism destination.
It’s already garnered the tagline of the “world’s first city built for play.”
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The Qiddiya track was first set to be completed last year, leading to a debut race for this season.
But Qiddiya itself remains an ongoing construction project, and the track is not expected to be completed until 2027.
However, it could be several more years before the tourist city is ready to go.
That could mean Jeddah continues to host the Saudi Grand Prix until at least 2029.
And the Qiddiya race track may sit empty if it does finish in two years’ time.
Saudi Motorsport Company chairman Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal told The Race: “The track is going to be ready in ’27, so it’s going to be determined by the other surrounding projects [in terms of] if you’re going to be finished on time or there’s going to be, [because] sometimes in these mega-projects there are, delays.
“We’re not in a rush to move from Jeddah. If everything goes well and we feel comfortable, and Formula 1 feels comfortable going there, we think not before ’27, so we’re thinking about ’28, maybe ’29.
“But next year, we’ll have a better understanding on when exactly we can move there.”
Prince Khalid went on to discuss the possibility of having TWO races in Saudi, as well as the option to rotate courses.
He added: “To have two races or rotate between Qiddiya and Jeddah, it is too early to discuss.
“Our main focus now is to enjoy what’s remaining in Jeddah and look forward to move to the new facility in Qiddiya and take things forward from there when we reach that point. But it’s too early, we have nothing in plan.
“It has been said in the media a couple of years ago about having two races in Saudi Arabia.
“I don’t think with the calendar now it’s something possible and we haven’t actually discussed this idea between us.”