2023 F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix preview

The second spherical of the 2023 System One World Championship takes us this weekend to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on the Crimson Beach.

The circuit, billed because the quickest avenue circuit on the earth, is residence to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This 12 months is the third 12 months the race is on the calendar.

The circuit’s observe structure was designed by well-known circuit architect Hermann Tilke, and its 3.83-mile size is second solely to the 4.35-mile lengthy Spa-Francorchamps. It has 27 corners, the very best variety of any circuit on the calendar, and its common pace within the earlier two races has been above 150 mph.

The observe floor affords a medium degree of grip however the sand blown in from the close by desert can have an effect on issues, as can dramatic adjustments in wind route. Pirelli has nominated its medium compounds for the race: C2 is the White arduous, C3 is the Yellow medium, and C4 is the Crimson smooth.

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, residence of the System 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Groups additionally must take care of fast temperature adjustments because the race progresses, because the Saudi race begins at nightfall and runs into the evening. The present climate forecast requires superb circumstances all through the weekend, with peak temperatures hovering round 90 levels F.

Adjustments made to the observe this 12 months embrace some new rumble strips on the escape roads and a few smoother curbs. Quite a lot of the partitions have additionally been repositioned to assist enhance visibility in some areas and to make the corners slower elsewhere.

After some apply on Friday, Crimson Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was the quickest, adopted carefully by teammate Sergio Perez, after which the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. It was additionally confirmed that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc must take a 10-place grid penalty for having exceeded his allocation of energy unit management electronics.

Going into Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race, Verstappen leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with 25 factors. Perez is second with 18 factors and Alonso third with 15 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Crimson Bull leads with 43 factors, versus the 23 of Aston Martin and 16 of Mercedes-Benz AMG. Final 12 months’s winner in Saudi Arabia was Verstappen, driving for Crimson Bull.