Everything you need to know about the Saudi Arabian GP 2023
The second race of the F1 season speeds into Jeddah this weekend…
The 2023 F1 season officially kicked off in Bahrain earlier this month. The second race of the calendar sees the teams descend on Jeddah Corniche Circuit for a weekend of gripping racing action.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Saudi Arabian GP.
Dates and times
This year free practice begins on Friday March 17, with the first two practice sessions taking place at 4.30pm and 8pm respectively. The final practice session as the teams ready for qualifying is on Saturday March 18 at 4.30pm. Then, qualifying takes place from 8pm to 9pm on Saturday March 18.
The 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix itself takes place at 8pm local time on Sunday March 19.
The circuit
Known as the fastest street track and the second longest in all of Formula One, the Jeddah race has become one of the most exciting races on the calendar since its 2021 debut. The numbers around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit are truly exciting to race fans: 50 laps, 27 turns, 3 DRS zones and the opportunity to reach speeds of up to 250km/hr.
Previous winners
The Saudi Arabian GP was first added to the F1 calendar in 2021. In its inaugural year, the race was won by seven time champion Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes. Last year, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen held off Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari to win the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
After race concerts
There’s a stellar line-up of international acts bringing the noise to Jeddah this weekend, as if all the action on the track wasn’t enough for race fans.
On Saturday March 18, Don’t You Worry Child as the internationally revered trio of Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell – popularly known as Swedish House Mafia – will perform. The trio headline alongside acclaimed singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, famous for hits like One Call Away and See You Again; and Dutch DJ Afrojack, who always brings the vibes to his energetic sets.
Closing the show on Sunday March 19 will be Summer and Feels So Close hitmaker DJ Calvin Harris and the famed American rapper Travis Scott.
Tickets
If you’re just looking for regular tickets, there’s several options. General admission to the standing areas to watch the race starts from SAR85 for Friday’s practice session, SAR145 for qualifying on Saturday and SAR255 for Sunday’s race, while a three-day pass is SAR442. Three-day tickets for the four central grandstands A, B, C and D are all SAR851, while a three-day pass for the new main grandstand B is SAR1,751. Tickets for main grandstand A, located right at the heart of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, are SAR2,448 for three days.
VIP packages start from SAR17,260 for three day access.