F1 confirm Saudi Arabia on calendar for at least 10 years
F1 confirm Saudi Arabia on calendar for at least 10 years
Formula 1's global director of race promotion Chloe Targett-Adams has revealed Saudi Arabia has a guaranteed place on the calendar for at least the next 10 years.
Saudi Arabia will host its first race in November as part of a season-ending double-header in the Middle East, with Abu Dhabi hosting the now traditional curtain-closer.
The night event is to be staged in the port city of Jeddah, along the banks of the Red Sea and the city's corniche. It is anticipated that from 2023 onwards the race will take place at a permanent facility in Qiddiya.
Although F1 has been criticised for visiting Saudi Arabia due its abysmal human rights record, and for its attempts at 'sportwashing' as other high-profile events have taken place in the country in the past, Targett-Adams has confirmed it has a long-term future.
"It was phenomenal to get that deal agreed, signed and announced during the pandemic," said Targett-Adams, speaking at the BlackBook Motorsport Virtual Summit.
"It's somewhere we are really excited about going racing, and it's a longer-term vision of how we want to build our sport in the Middle East.
"We've already got two amazing partners in the Middle East on the promotion side with Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, both long-term relationships, incredibly successful.
"So to bring on a new Middle Eastern race in a location like Saudi, with a hugely young demographic, a vast population, interest in motorsport and the automotive sector, and the ability then as a market to tap into that northern Africa front and other aspects of the Middle East provides a really interesting framework for Formula 1.
"We've the first race this year in Jeddah on a temporary street circuit which is coming into shape already, which is no easy feat during a pandemic.
"The team in Saudi are doing a phenomenal job in doing that, so really looking forward to racing there and just launching Formula 1 in a new market because that's always an exciting time."
Asked as to how long F1 would be racing in Saudi Arabia as a minimum, Targett-Adams replied: "We're looking at definitely a decade, if not longer.
"It's important when you go into such a key new market as Saudi, you really need to be able to invest.
"Saudi, given their 2030 vision, what they are looking to achieve, their objectives, that longer-term investment made sense for how they want to build Formula 1 and motorsport interests within the country.
"If you look at some of the initiatives that the country is doing currently, it's an educational process on both sides.
"But it's a fascinating country, with its culture, and how we relate to that is an area we are looking forward to."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton fired serious warning by Wolff as F1 star takes aim at controversial FIA decision - GPFans F1 Recap
- 1 hour ago
F1's quirkiest star begins selling ICE CREAM in latest venture
- 2 hours ago
F1 colleagues UNFOLLOW each other as internal drama cranks up
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton 'emotional burden' heading into 2024 season revealed
- Yesterday 21:12
Marko DIRECTLY addresses Verstappen quit rumours
- Yesterday 20:27
Vettel CONFIRMS F1 comeback and reveals what's holding it up
- Yesterday 19:42
- 1
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
F1 reveal remarkable 109m TV audience for Hamilton Verstappen Abu Dhabi showdown
Masi made the right decision in 'heart-pumping' finale - Grosjean
F1 battle of the team-mates
F1's best moments from a chaotic and controversial 2021
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860