Horner predicts "drama" on "insane" Saudi F1 layout

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has described the Jeddah Street as "insane" ahead of Formula 1's first visit to Saudi Arabia.

The 2021 season has offered thrills and spills in equal measure and with two races remaining and both the drivers' and constructors' battles finely poised, Horner has predicted further drama to unfold in Jeddah.

"We head to Saudi Arabia for their first race where the track looks insane from I’ve seen," wrote Horner in his Red Bull column.

"It’s hugely fast and the first sector is like Suzuka, but with walls! It is going to be a massive challenge and I’m sure there will be plenty of excitement and drama."

Unlike in Qatar where F1 raced without any support series, Formula 2 features on the bill in Saudi Arabia.

"We will be watching the Formula 2 race very carefully," added Horner.

"On paper, it looks like a power-sensitive circuit, so you'd say that tends to favour Mercedes and it looks as though they feel that way too, but you just don't know."

It is impossible for both the drivers' and constructors' fights to be closed off this weekend with Max Verstappen leading by eight points but Mercedes leading the teams' battle by five from Red Bull.

Looking at the one race remaining after Saudia Arabia, the Abu Dhabi GP, Horner assessed: "We go to Abu Dhabi, where in 2020 we were the first team to beat Mercedes since 2013, but they’ve changed the circuit considerably.

"We will be preparing as best as we can to go there and perform and see where we end up."

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