All you need to know about the track changes at Jeddah Corniche circuit
A lot of changes have taken place at the Saudi Arabian track before the 2023 race happens. And yes, it'll still happen.
The Jeddah Corniche circuit has underwent changes aiming to further improve driver sightlines in specific areas of the circuit, alongside the refashioning of various kerbs. A number of track changes have been carried out at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit ahead of the 2023 edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, race promoter Saudi Motorsport Company has confirmed.
Made in cooperation with track design company Tilke GmbH, following consultation with F1, the FIA and drivers, the modifications aim to further improve driver sightlines in specific areas of the circuit, alongside the refashioning of various kerbs, “to deliver smoother, safer, and even more exciting racing” especially with the newer F1 cars where close racing was even more possible.
The changes include ‘Rumble lines’ being added at Turns 3, 14, 19, 20 and 21, while beveled kerbs have been added in place of steel ones at Turns 4, 8, 10, 11, 17 and 23. Rumble lines, for the uninitiated mean those mini textured lines that ‘shake’ a car making it lose traction. As for driver sightlines, Turns 14 and 20 have seen the shifting of the fence wall on the right- and left-hand sides respectively by 7.5m (T14) and 5m (T20), with an extra ‘Rumble Line’ implemented between the white line and fence wall. In addition to this, the fence wall at Turns 8 and 10 have also been adjusted to give drivers more visibility of the corner ahead. In the final change, Turns 22 and 23 have seen the ‘S’ shape squeezed via the adjustment of the fence at T23, and the addition of a beveled kerb – with a view to slowing down the drivers by approximately 50km/h.
The Jeddah track has been in dire need of some of these changes just from a driver’s safety stand point. Another safety point was the nearby fire during the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP and the off-track politics as well. We all remember the Formula1-politics-money chain and it has not changed. There is a sign of improvement most probably to keep the drivers in favor of the race after what happened here this season.
