Haas Formula One driver Romain Grosjean excited by the potential of a Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia GP

Grosjean excited by the potential of a Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia

Even more races to be added?

Sam Hall

Saturday 8 February 2020 16:10

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Romain Grosjean is excited by the prospect of racing a Formula One Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, especially on a track designed by former driver Alex Wurz.

With 22 Grand Prix already featuring on the record breaking 2020 calendar, there have been more than murmurings of discontent at the thought of adding further races into the mix. Despite this, Chase Carey and Liberty Media maintain that they are keen for a 25-race calendar and Saudi Arabia appears to be leading the chase to seal one of these spots.

The Grand Prix would be held in the city of Qiddiya and the track would form a part of a new entertainment and commercial sector just outside of the capital city, Riyadh.

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Attending a launch event at the venue of the proposed new circuit, Grosjean, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) told Motorsport.com, “I sincerely hope that the project will go ahead and that it will progress as it should.

“The track Alex has designed is great. He knows what we like and what we don’t like. He’s lucky to have this close relationship with us, he comes to ask us questions.

“For example, we drove around in the simulator and there’s a corner he’s not sure about. I said: “About this one, I don’t know!” And he said he didn’t really know what to do with that corner. It’s great to talk about it, to share our opinions.

“Overall, the project is huge, super beautiful, and the place is extraordinary. I really hope there will be a Grand Prix.”

Grosjean added that Wurz, who is the current chairman of the GPDA, knows to ask drivers for their thoughts on potential layouts before confirming anything if the track is to generate the best possible action.

“We are the ones who are on the tracks, the ones who know what is good or not for overtaking and for the fun of it,” Grosjean added.

“When you look at golf, as soon as a new course is built, you go straight to a golf player to get his opinion. That’s not something that’s been done in Formula 1.”

The target is for a Grand Prix to be held for the first time in 2023.