Press Release

Jeddah GP Preview

25.06.2023 - It will be lights out at the Saudi Arabian GP at 17:00 BST on the 25th of June, but who will triumph?

Track Guide
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit has been on the calendar since 2021, and is generally considered a positive addition to Formula 1. With a mammoth 27 corners, Jeddah is a very fast circuit, with average speeds of over 250 kilometres per hour (160mph). It is also the second-longest track on the calendar, just behind the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Designed by Carsten Tilke, son of the famous Hermann Tilke, it measures 6.174km (3.836 miles) and the fastest ever lap is currently held by French driver Corinne de Saint-Germain, who set a record 1:29.779, whilst the race fastest lap record is held by Tony Hoffman II, who set a 1:30.557 for McLaren. The circuit begins with a chicane, where overtakes often take place, followed by a short straight, before reaching Turn 4, a sharp left-hander that leads into the Turn 5 and 6 S-curves. Turns 7-9 make up another chicane-like complex before Turns 10,11 and 12 flatten out into a short straight again. Turn 13 is a tough hairpin, which leads into the Turn 14-17 section, a series of twisty corners. Turn 19, 20 and 21 are all flat-out corners, with braking required at Turn 22’s sharp left-hander. Turns 23 and 24 make up another S-curve before Turn 25 leads into the flat-out Turn 26. The final corner is a tight-hairpin, and a good exit is key, with a long straight ahead.

Weather Forecast
The Grand Prix will be mostly sunny with a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius. It will remain mostly sunny, no surprise, throughout the race’s 50 laps of action, with track surfaces being 34 degrees Celsius, a drop from yesterday’s 44 degrees, but still warm.

The Grid
After yesterday’s qualifying session, let’s take a look at the grid.
Gregory Moore lines up on pole position after edging out teammate Luka Jerman by one hundredth of a second. Behind the two Porsches, we have Corinne de Saint-Germain, again dragging her Red Bull into the Top 3. Lotus’s Tony Hoffman II has a much better qualifying than Bahrain, and is on the second row.
Next, we have :
Jimmy Doucet
Vali Asen
Filip Jeska
Pedro Dallara
Dmitry Starostachev
Alex Cooper
Gracjan Wozipiwo
Tadej Ozbolt
Dmitry Pironi
Iuri Carneiro
Marcin Jozcow
Lance Riley
Mauricio Cruz
Vladimir Romadov
Dami Stoppe
Michele Iannone II
Pankrac Zatacka
Ernie Beales
Braedyn Blake
Thibau Boutsen
Jyrki Jarvilehto Lehto Jr.
Milan Toth-Fodor
Janne Hasuke
Olaf Neumann
Sixtosz Xalonna
Isidre Llach

Predictions
Following Bahrain, I commented that Porsche may be invincible this season, and the qualifying for Jeddah only fuels my speculations. So I have to go with Porsche for the win here, and I think Jerman will take the chequered flag first yet again. Moore will almost certainly be P2, barring any mishaps whilst I expect De Saint-Germain or Asen to fill up the podium. With Wozipiwo seemingly struggling, might there be a surprise? Vladimir Romadov did out-perform the car, so can he challenge for P13 or 14, or even for a point? And how will Xalonna and Hoffman fare with contrasting fortunes? What will happen in Jeddah?