Preview of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia
The second round of the 2023 F1 World Championship will be held this weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on the Red Sea coast.
Billed as the fastest street circuit in the world, the circuit is also the site of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This year will be the third time the event will be held.
The layout of the circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, a well-known circuit designer, and at 3.83 miles long, it is second only to Spa-Francorchamps, which is 4.35 miles long. At 3.83 miles long, it is second only to Spa-Francorchamps, which is 4.35 miles long, and has 27 corners.
The track surface boasts a medium level of grip, but can be affected by sand blowing in from the nearby desert and dramatic changes in wind direction. Pirelli is bringing a medium compound to this race: white hard for C2, yellow medium for C3, and red soft for C4.
In addition, because the Saudi Arabian race runs from dusk into the night, teams will also have to deal with rapidly changing temperatures as the race progresses. The current weather forecast calls for favorable weather throughout the weekend, with peak temperatures around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the wall has been repositioned to improve visibility in some areas, and the corners have been slowed more in others.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing was fastest in Friday's practice, followed closely by teammate Sergio Perez, and the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. It was also confirmed that Ferrari's Charles Leclerc would receive a 10-grid demotion penalty for exceeding his power unit control electronics quota.
Verstappen leads the 2023 drivers' championship heading into Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race with 25 points. Perez is second with 18 points and Alonso is third with 15 points. In the constructors' championship, Red Bull leads with 43 points, Aston Martin has 23 points, and Mercedes-Benz AMG has 16 points. Last year it was Red Bull's Verstappen who won in Saudi Arabia.
