Following the previous weekend’s season opener in Bahrain, the 2024 Components 1 World Championship has disregarded to close by Saudi Arabia for the nation’s annual race on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The race will happen on Saturday as an alternative of the same old Sunday schedule to keep away from clashing with preparations for Ramadan, which implies the preliminary apply session was moved ahead to Thursday and qualifying is scheduled for Friday.

Ferrari has confirmed that Carlos Sainz will miss the race attributable to an appendicitis that can require surgical procedure. Filling in for Sainz can be reserve driver Oliver Bearman.

This weekend would be the fourth working of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Its Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a road circuit that lies alongside the Crimson Coastline within the metropolis of Jeddah, was designed by well-known circuit architect Hermann Tilke and measures 3.83 miles lengthy, making it second in size to solely the 4.35-mile Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, residence of the Components 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

It has 27 corners, the best variety of any circuit on the calendar, and its common velocity within the earlier races has been above 150 mph. The observe floor gives a medium degree of grip, however the sand blown in from the close by desert can have an effect on issues, as can dramatic modifications in wind path.

Groups additionally need to take care of fast temperature modifications because the race progresses, because the Saudi race begins at nightfall and runs into the night time. The present climate forecast requires positive circumstances in the course of the race, with peak temperatures anticipated to hover round 85 levels.

Pirelli has nominated its medium tire compounds for the race: C2 is the white arduous, C3 is the yellow medium, and C4 is the pink gentle.

Aston Martin Vantage official security automobile for the 2024 Components 1 World Championship

Being a road circuit, which implies slender passages with close by partitions, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has a excessive danger of incidents resulting in security automobile intervals. Throughout the three earlier races in Saudi Arabia, there have been 4 security automobile intervals, and two pink flags. Beginning with this spherical, the brand new 2025 Aston Martin Vantage will take over the protection automobile position from its predecessor.

Going into Friday’s qualifying session and Saturday’s race, Crimson Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen leads the 2024 Drivers’ Championship with 26 factors. Fellow Crimson Bull driver Sergio Perez is second with 18 factors, and Sainz is third with 15 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Crimson Bull leads with 44 factors, versus the 27 of Ferrari and 16 of Mercedes-Benz AMG. Final yr’s winner in Saudi Arabia was Perez, driving for Crimson Bull.

The 2024 season of the all-female F1 Academy will even host its first spherical on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. There can be two races, every working 13 laps, on Saturday.