Vroom, vroom. Can you hear those engines roaring? It’s time to put the pedal to the metal once again at Saudi’s biggest racing weekend, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Motor racing fans with a need for speed will have all eyes on Jeddah and you’ll want to be part of the action.
The world’s best drivers are coming to Jeddah’s famous Corniche to compete in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix complete with mega concerts and other exciting events. It’s an event you don’t want to miss and definitely one worth travelling for. Here’s everything you need to know about the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix details
The Formula 1 racing event started its engines for the first time in Jeddah in 2021, and has since become an annual fixture on the F1 calendar. Fun fact: The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is one of six races in the series that takes place at night and this marks the fourth year of the speedy event promising bigger and better things.
If you’ve spent the last 12 months eagerly waiting for the F1 competition to race back into the Red Sea city, you’ll be glad to know that it’s finally time to kick things back into high gear.
When is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024?
The three-day race is taking place on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit between Thursday, March 7 and Saturday, March 9.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the second in this year’s F1 calendar, following the opening debut race of the season in Bahrain.
After the Jeddah race, the F1 schedule will continue zooming in Melbourne, Australia on Friday March 22.
The final race of the 2024 season will take place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina on Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8.
What races are on?
Both the main Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix race and qualifiers are held in Jeddah’s cooler evenings. Accompanying fixtures outside the F1 bracket take place during the day, as do F1 practice races, which give the top teams a chance to test their cars at higher temperatures. Can the wheels take the heat?
So, who will be the fastest of them all this year? By a considerable distance, Max Verstappen walked away with the championship title for the 2023 season and yet, in Jeddah, it was his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez who crossed the main F1 race’s finish line first.
The Red Bull team took the top two slots on the podium at the season’s end, but with Lewis Hamilton’s shocking switch to Ferrari forthcoming, could the F1 GOAT end his tenure at Mercedes with something special? Or, will Ferrari’s current duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz creep even further up the leaderboard? They’ll be pitched against drivers like two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin and teams including McLaren, Renault and Williams. The only way to find out is to catch the action at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – ideally in person, of course.
What about the track?
Credited for being the “fastest street track” on the Formula 1 calendar, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a twisting 6.17-kilometre track along the picturesque Red Sea. It is the third-longest track on the Formula 1 calendar and has 27 turns. Cars average around 250 kilometres per hour on the twisting circuit. Whoa!
How to get tickets
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix tickets
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix tickets are available in ten different two- or three-day ticket packages. There are single-day tickets available from SAR100, but only for Thursday and Friday races excluding the final race on Saturday. If you want an extra-special experience, there are a few other packages you can get your hands on below.
The Paddock Club
If you’re an F1 uber fan, the Paddock Club ticket package is as fine as they come. Enjoy a luxury lounge with unobstructed indoor and outdoor views of the track. Situated on levels two and three of the Pit Building at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the hospitality lounge stretches across the length of the pit lane below. You’ll get a prime glimpse into the heart of the action from the balconies, looking down as the teams exit the lightning-fast mid-race pit stop manoeuvres. The space will give you world-class hospitality services, premium seating and a special menu.
Paddock Club tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, VIP platform at the concerts, shuttle and buggy services and VIP parking. You can get all this starting from SAR29,200.
From SAR29,200.
Premium Suites
These private indoor suites are located either side of the track near the main grandstand and each come with balconies, perfect for viewing two sections of the track. You’ll get premium catering throughout the day and have the opportunity to attend meet-and-greets. Don’t forget your camera.
Premium suite tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, VIP platform at the concerts, shuttle and buggy services and assured reservations at Jeddah Promenade restaurants for when you’re feeling peckish.
From SAR18,975.
Premium Lounge
Premium lounge tickets offer all of the benefits of a Premium suite ticket except instead of spending the day in a private suite, you’ll spend it in a shared luxury lounge. The lounge areas are located just next door to the Premium suites and share the same premium catering services offered throughout the day and also offer the same meet-and-greet options. Instagram update? Check.
Premium lounge tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, VIP platform at the concerts, shuttle and buggy services and assured reservations at Jeddah Promenade restaurants. Tickets start from SAR13,800.
From SAR13,800.
Main Grandstand A
Located at the centre of Jeddah Corniche Circuit, this ticket gives you direct views of the finishing line, the pit lane and F1 team garages. This is your ticket to the heart of the event. Cue tire change.
Main Grandstand A tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR2,016 (two days), SAR2,880 (three days).
Main Grandstand B
The latest addition to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, visitors are provided front row views of the action including the first two turns of the races in addition to views of the pitstops, team buildings, and team garages. This ticket also offers views of the chequered flag, winner’s podium and the trophy presentation.
Main Grandstand B tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR1,442 (two days), SAR2,060 (three days).
Central Grandstand A
You’ll get close-up views of the track’s narrowest section, where the race is either won or lost – specifically turns five and 20.
Central Grandstand A tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR700 (two days), SAR1,000 (three days).
Central Grandstand B
With this ticket you’ll watch as the drivers speed past you twice on each lap. First as they race out of turn five into turns six, seven and eight and then as they pass between turns 19 and 20 on the opposite side of the track.
Central Grandstand B tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR700 (two days), SAR1,000 (three days).
Qiddiya Central Grandstand C
If you want to see some further acton, from the Qiddiya Central Grandstand C, you’ll watch as the drivers speed out of turn eight on the first section of the circuit before seeing them race back in the other direction through turns 17 and 18.
Qiddiya Central Grandstand C tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR700 (two days), SAR1,000 (three days).
STC Central Grandstand D
You’ll see drivers speed out of turn eight and into turn nine before exiting rapidly into turn 10. On the opposite side, you’ll watch them negotiating turns 16, 17 and 18 before they head into the final, high-speed section of the lap. Are you on the edge of your seat?
stc Central Grandstand D tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR700 (two days), SAR1,000 (three days).
General Admission
If you want to watch the final F1 race at an affordable price of under SAR500, this is for you. This standing-only ticket gives fans a chance to watch the race from different locations along the racetrack.
General admission tickets also give you access to: Fan Villages, Jeddah Art Promenade, entry to the concerts and car parking slots.
From SAR364 (two days), SAR520 (three days).
Concerts
Yes, a lot of people come for the races, but the after-race concerts are as exciting as the on-track action. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix concerts have featured some mega performers including Swedish House Mafia, Black Eyed Peas and Calvin Harris. The line-up this year is bringing some serious beats, too, with Pharrell, Alicia Keys and Martin Garrix all on the docket.
After previously performing in AlUla, Alicia Keys is back in Saudi. The American singer, songwriter and pianist will set the stage on fire as part of the concerts. This is one show to see live. She has won 16 Grammy awards and sold more than 90 million albums, and is known for her long list of hits including “Fallin”, “If I Ain’t Got You”, “My Boo” and “No One”.
We’re so lucky that Pharrell is also performing, as the legendary rapper and music producer has been cranking out hits since the late ’90s as part of the hit hip-hop production duo The Neptunes. Later, he was the vocalist for their band spin-off N.E.R.D. He has won 13 Grammys and countless accolades. It’s one to see.
This year, we also have Martin Garrix. The Dutch spinner is one of the world’s leading DJs with bangers like “Animals”, “In The Name of Love” and “Scared to be Lonely”, which he recorded with Dua Lipa. He has performed in Saudi a number of times, including at MDLBEAST Soundstorm in Riyadh.
Fan Villages
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Fan Villages are a huge part of this much-loved event. Here you can expect driving simulators, e-karting, assault courses, bumper cars and other fairground rides, theme park-style fast thrills, food stalls and much more. It’s fun for the whole family. Kiddos won’t miss out as there’s face painting, too.
F1 Academy
The all-new F1 Academy will kick off its 2024 season with an opening race in Jeddah. This year, the all-female single-seater series will race seven different tracks across three continents accompanying the FIA Formula 1 World Championship as it travels.
The F1 Academy was created to develop female race-driving talent The female drivers have cars that are identical to those of their male counterparts.
From SAR100. Fri Mar 7-Sun Mar 9. Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Ash Shati, saudiarabiangp.com.
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