The progress of the construction of Saudi Arabia’s new Formula 1 circuit has been revealed in fresh pictures.
Qiddiya Speed Park, designed by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, will be part of a new entertainment and sports complex outside the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.
It is scheduled for completion in 2027 with the aim of hosting a first F1 race in 2028 but the project could be pushed back to as late as 2029.
The circuit has already faced delays, with the original intention for the venue to be completed in time for 2024.
In the meantime, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit will continue to host the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for as long as required.
The latest images from the development show that construction has begun on Qiddiya Speed Park’s mind boggling elevated corner.
This will be the world’s first elevated race track corner and will be as high as a 20-storey building when completed. It will be known as “The Blade” and will rise and fall by 108 metres.
The Qiddiya City project is part of Saudi Vision 2030 and will also feature theme parks and a stadium that will host FIFA World Cup matches in 2034.
Speaking about the plans in 2024, Lando Norris said: “I’ve seen the video and the preview, and it looks pretty crazy.
“It’s what Saudi do, so full respect to them for coming up with some crazy things and trying to make it as cool as what it looks.
“You have a lot of places which are nowhere near as lively and as fun. So, if you want people to be attracted to the sport in general, you don’t want it just to be a track in the middle of nowhere that no one goes to.”
The track has been likened to a rollercoaster and Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road.
