15 April 2025 14:05 (UTC)
"It’s a really fast track and we have a quick car, so we’ll be aiming to finish this triple-header strongly"
We’re making the short trip across the border from the desert dunes of Bahrain to the streets of Saudi Arabia, ready to take on one of the most demanding and spectacular night races on the calendar.
Set against the backdrop of the Red Sea, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a completely different challenge to anything we’ve faced so far. The final round in a demanding triple header, this narrow, fast, and unforgiving street circuit will keep everyone on their toes. Precision matters, confidence counts, and there’s absolutely no room for error.
With momentum building after a strong start to the campaign, we’ve caught up with Lando, Oscar, and Team Principal Andrea Stella to get their thoughts on the weekend ahead. We’ll also look at the weekend’s biggest challenges, the reasons why we love the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and test your knowledge with another pop quiz.
“I’m excited to head back to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend. It’s a really fast track and we have a quick car, so we’ll be aiming to finish this triple-header strongly.
“I’m proud with how we’ve started the season. We’ve celebrated our success but also come together as a team to debrief and take away our learnings ahead of the next race. I’m feeling good and look forward to going racing again this weekend.”
“I was very happy with the win and the manner of victory over in Bahrain. Therefore, I'm going into this weekend with a lot of confidence.
"Jeddah is a track that I really enjoy and have good memories of from past visits. I’m determined to hit the ground running in Saudi.”
“After a successful weekend in Bahrain, we immediately turn our attention to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. We feel encouraged by our performance thanks to the hard work of everyone in the team who have delivered a fast car.
“The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is one of the fastest circuits in the calendar, with opportunities for overtaking, and a softer tyre allocation compared to the past, which could make for an exciting race. As always, we keep focused and hope to close out this triple-header with another positive result for the team.”
It’s the fastest street circuit in the world and the second-fastest track on the F1 calendar. City-based races are traditionally known to be slower and more technical, but Jeddah is one of several newer street circuits to buck that trend.
Cars average around 250km/h over the course of the race, while navigating 27 corners – the most on the F1 calendar – but the majority of those are taken at full speed, with 75% of a lap spent at full speed.
It all takes place in front of a stunning, yacht-lined backdrop, with cars racing on the Saudi Arabian seafront.
Speed is vital around Jeddah, but drivers aren’t given much room, with barriers lining several narrow sections of the circuit - it’s like threading the eye of a needle.
The full-throttle nature of the circuit and the heat in Saudi Arabia is also demanding on the car’s power systems, brakes and tyres. The non-stop nature of the racing demands a lot from the engine and the other power-related components.
The heavy braking zones that do exist don’t make it any easier, with drivers needing to slow down by 200km/h at certain sections of the circuit, most notably in the first corner, where cars decelerate from 317km/h to 110km/h. When combined with the heat in Jeddah, this can put strain on the brakes and, to a lesser extent, the tyres.
THIS WEEKEND
Oscar claimed his second Pole and victory of the season – our first in Bahrain – and moved up to second in the Drivers’ standings, just behind Lando. It was a superb all-round display from the Australian, who controlled the race from lights to flag.
Finishing third, Lando claimed his fourth podium in as many races, strengthening our lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
There was a lot to love about Lando’s Thursday outfit at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but what really elevated the look was his sunglasses.
Accessories can make or break an outfit and with summer fast approaching, now is the time to stock up. Ditch that dusty old hat and those wonky sunglasses you’ve been holding onto, and elevate your style with our McLaren-inspired New Era caps and SunGod shades, warm-weather essentials that allow you to show your support in style.
