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 Pink Coastline.
The circuit, billed because the quickest avenue circuit on the planet, is house to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This yr is the third yr 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 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 presents a medium stage 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 laborious, C3 is the Yellow medium, and C4 is the Pink tender.
Jeddah Corniche Circuit, house of the System 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Groups additionally should take care of speedy temperature adjustments because the race progresses, because the Saudi race begins at nightfall and runs into the evening. The present climate forecast requires advantageous situations all through the weekend, with peak temperatures hovering round 90 levels F.
Adjustments made to the observe this yr embrace some new rumble strips on the escape roads and a few smoother curbs. Numerous 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, Pink Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was the quickest, adopted intently 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, Pink Bull leads with 43 factors, versus the 23 of Aston Martin and 16 of Mercedes-Benz AMG. Final yr’s winner in Saudi Arabia was Verstappen, driving for Pink Bull.
