The F1 Jeddah Corniche Circuit in focus

One of the most thrilling races of the 2022 season was the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen held off Charles Leclerc to win by just under a second. Fans won’t need to wait much longer to see the entertaining Jeddah Corniche Circuit in action once again, as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the second leg of the Formula 1 2023 season.

Jeddah Corniche Circuit Overview

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit hosts the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and this will be the third year that the Formula 1 race has been staged at the track. A total of 50 laps will be completed by drivers to make up the total race distance of 308.45km. Each lap covers a distance of 6.174km, and it is one of the quickest tracks of the season.

There are 27 corners for drivers to navigate, with the final turn taking drivers in the home straight. Furthermore, the track boasts an impressive three DRS detection zones for overtaking. The first is located between turns 17 and 18, with the second and third located in the third sector. The fastest lap is held by Lewis Hamilton, who completed a lap at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in a time of 1:30.734 in 2021.

History Of The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is one of the newest additions to the Formula 1 world championship, as it was only staged for the first time in 2021. This track is a temporary street circuit located in the coastal resort region of Corniche. Plans to bring F1 to Saudi Arabia got underway in 2019 before it was formally announced to teams in the middle of 2020.

The two races to this point have produced two different winners. Back in the 2021 season, the race was the 21st of the season, and only a victory for Lewis Hamilton would keep his hopes alive of retaining the Drivers’ Championship. The Brit was sensational throughout the race and eventually held off Max Verstappen to take the victory. Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas finished back in third.

The drama in the race continued last year, as it was held earlier in the season. Sergio Perez started on pole, but the Mexican eventually dropped down the order and finished back in fourth. It was a pulsating race to the checkered flag, with Leclerc and Verstappen battling for the win.

However, it was ultimately the latter that landed victory, as he finished just under a second clear of the Ferrari driver. Leclerc’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, finished third.

Leading Contenders This Year

We are still at an early stage of the upcoming F1 season, as the designs for the cars are yet to be unveiled. However, many expect the battle for the major championships to once again be between Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. Red Bull and Mercedes have both previously enjoyed victories at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, with Red Bull’s Verstappen having finished on the podium in each of the previous two editions.

A Mercedes resurgence is extremely likely over the early weeks of the season, as they finally looked to piece together a car that could compete toward the end of last season. That has seen extra support for Hamilton to regain the Drivers’ Championship in the betting at www.arabwinners.com. But, Ferrari could yet prove a solid contender this year.

Leclerc ended the race last year with the fastest lap, and strategic changes behind the scenes could ensure that they don’t make the same repeated errors as they did last season. There will also be a lot of eyes on the F1 newcomers, including Oscar Piastri, who will be racing for McLaren for just the second time when the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix gets underway.

Exciting Season Ahead

There is little doubt that this looks set to be one of the most exciting seasons in Formula 1 history. In total, there will be 23 Grand Prix on the schedule for 2023, and also six Sprint Races for drivers’ to pick up vital points in the battles for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

There will be extra pressure on the teams over the early weeks of the season, as they look to set a tone for the campaign ahead. Therefore, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be an unmissable event on the calendar once again in 2023.