Poll: Official 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Thread - Corniche Circuit, Jeddah - Round 2

[chrismscotland]

Jeddah​

When was the track built?​

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is, you won’t be surprised to hear, a temporary street circuit (albeit adorned with some permanent sections), located on the Corniche – a 30km coastal resort area of the ancient Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Designed by the Tilke company, in conjunction with Formula 1’s own Motorsports team – who used Google Earth for their initial investigations into potential layouts – F1’s Ross Brawn said of the track: “What we want to see is a race circuit. We don’t want Mickey Mouse circuits. We don’t want those old classic street circuits with 90 degree turns. We want fast sweeping circuits, circuits which are going to challenge the drivers – and they are going to love it.”

When was its first Grand Prix?​

The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place in 2021, the race joining its Middle Eastern counterparts in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi – while like those races, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix also takes place under floodlights.

What's the circuit like?​

Fast. Very fast. Average speeds around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit are around 250km/h – quicker than those at Silverstone, and second on the 2021 calendar only to Monza – aka ‘The Temple of Speed’. It is, quite simply, the fastest street circuit ever seen in Formula 1 – while the track also features the most corners on the calendar with 27, many of them quick, sinuous bends as the drivers wend their way along the Jeddah waterfront.

Schedule Information & TV Broadcast Times (F1 & F2)​

Channel 4 Highlights - Broadcast Times​

Friday 8th March 2024 - Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying Highlights - 20:30
Saturday 9th March 2024 -Saudi Arabian GP Race Highlights - 21:30

Track Diagram & Information​

Weather Forecast​

Previous Race Highlights​

• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 - Highlights
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2022 - Highlights
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 - Highlights

Championship Standings​

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[chrismscotland]

Thanks @chrismscotland. I'll be glad when we're back to Sunday races, it just seemed so wrong yesterday.

Today has felt a bit empty, scheduling issue next weekend as well - I'll have been in the boozer for Italy v Scotland 6 Nations, I think I'll stay there for England v Ireland...

 

[chrismscotland]

Well first practice was made slightly more entertaining by the game of who could get the largest plastic bag attached to a car..

I hope it wasn't a bag for life

 

[chrismscotland]

Delayed FP2 start... you'll never guess why

David Croft of Sky Sports has news​

He says that it is due to potentially loose bolts on loose drain covers in the pit lane...​

 

[chrismscotland]

Shame for Carlos but huge opportunity for Bearman, although he was on pole for the F2 so probably a little gutted about that!

 

[chrismscotland]

Thrown in at the deep end, strange they haven’t got a more experienced driver available.

Haven't really had anyone with experience since Giovanazzi left

 

[chrismscotland]

Haven't seen Ham's lap but Bearman 0.024 down on Lewis and 0.050 up on Russell.
Bearman on mediums and the Merc's on softs

 

[chrismscotland]

Hey, just a comment on what I expected Ferrari to do. If they’ve let Gio go and don’t have anything else, that’s it.

Actually they do have Robert Swarzman so maybe they couldn’t get him here in time.

To be fair Shwartzman isn't much more experienced than Bearman anyway, seems to be the way of it these days - Merc probably have the most experienced reserve with Mick actually.

 

[chrismscotland]

Red Flag - Zhou in the barrier - ouch

 

[chrismscotland]

Crofty sounds like he's sniffed too much petrol

 

[chrismscotland]

Question: does Bearman get the points for pole even though he has withdrawn?

It doesn't seem so

Will they waive the 107% rule for Bearman?

Doesn't look like they'll need to

 

[chrismscotland]

Christ, just realised this is a no Brundle weekend

 

[chrismscotland]

Perez not looking his usual self on a street-track

 

[chrismscotland]

Alpine garbage as expected

 

[chrismscotland]

Is there a more even pairing than Norris and Piastri?

 

[chrismscotland]

No wonder Hamilton is leaving, Merc look miles away from the front.
Ferrari look fast but clearly 2nd best to Max

 

[chrismscotland]

I just said that to my other half. Mad.

They will be an incredible pairing if they can get that car in a title fight

 

[chrismscotland]

I think I might stay in the pub for England v Wales tomorrow

 

[chrismscotland]

Glad I recorded this and watched it later; utterly dull again, only bright spot was Bearman - what a debut for him - surely proven he should be in an F1 seat over some of the dross that's on the grid currently. That said easier to have a decent race in the 2nd fastest car I suppose!

 

[chrismscotland]

I'd rather not see Adrian go to another team and help them to do well, unless it was literally a back marker. I feel that it then becomes the Adrian Newey show and a bit too much emphasis on where he's at. Ideally he'd retire with the glory of knowing he did amazing things with Redbull, then onto a new chapter with 2026 with new ideas and new people.

"The Adrian Newey show"? In the last 24 years cars designed by Newey have won 7 World Championship; cars designed by others including Ferrari, Brawn, Mercedes, Renault and McLaren have won the other 17.
I think its unfair to single out Newey for retirement just because he got the interpretation of the new aero rules right for 2022.