VIDEO | Insane Qiddiya circuit in Saudi Arabia takes shape

While the race weekend in Saudi Arabia was cancelled this year due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the Saudis are working tirelessly on the construction of the Qiddiya Speed Park Track. The country has been working for some time on Qiddiya, an entertainment city like no other. The absolute main attraction will be the F1 circuit, which is set to appear on the calendar from 2028; drivers will race here, at the height of apartment buildings, through the desert.

Read more ‘We should cherish that rough edge of Max’

West of the Saudi capital Riyadh, the Qiddiya complex is being built at a rapid pace. With plenty of oil dollars, the project is intended to become ‘the entertainment capital of the world’. This includes sports arenas, theme parks, and a megalomaniacal F1 circuit that, in renders, looks more like a video game than an actual circuit. For example, there will be a roller coaster next to the straights, where fans can ‘ride along’ with the drivers. The main attraction is the Blade turn: a hairpin that extends over a twenty-story building.

The circuit is set to debut on the F1 calendar in 2028 and is currently still under full construction. Photos of the progress in Qiddiya appeared on social media this week. The first pillars for the Blade turn are now standing, as is the foundation for other parts of the circuit. Renowned designer Hermann Tilke and former F1 driver Alexander Wurz are responsible for the spectacular design of the track. Reportedly, the Qiddiya Speed Park Track will have a total length of more than seven kilometers, making it even longer than Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Read more VIDEO | Red Bull back in action at Suzuka during Pirelli tyre test

NOW ONLINE: 40-page Race Special GP Japan: our online magazine with news, reactions, analysis, and interview!

Read more Franco Colapinto under fire after heavy Bearman crash, management intervenes