Saudi Arabia night race added to Formula 1®'s 2021 calendar
Friday, 6 November 2020
The streets of Jeddah will host F1®'s first Saudi Arabian GP.
Formula 1® will have its maiden Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, it has been announced.
A night race on the streets of Jeddah will be held in November of next year, the first event in a long-term partnership between F1® and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF).
The race will be included on a provisional 2021 schedule that is to be submitted World Motor Sport Council for approval in the coming weeks.
"We are excited to welcome Saudi Arabia to Formula 1® for the 2021 season and welcome their announcement following speculation in recent days," said F1®'s chairman and CEO Chase Carey.
"Saudi Arabia is a country that is rapidly becoming a hub for sports and entertainment, with many major events taking place there in recent years, and we are very pleased that Formula 1® will be racing there from next season.
"The region is hugely important to us and, with 70 per cent of the population of Saudi being under 30, we are excited about the potential to reach new fans and bring our existing fans around the world exciting racing from an incredible and historic location."
BREAKING: F1 adds Saudi Arabian Grand Prix night race for 2021#SaudiArabianGP @SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/AW6Dy8qIs2
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 5, 2020
SAMF president prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal said: "Today is ground-breaking in every sense. I firmly believe the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be the biggest sports event hosted in our country's history and has the potential to change lives, perceptions and reach new audiences and communities like never before.
"To have the icons of the sport and historic teams race in Saudi in front of young fans and families is truly game-changing.
"We don't have a rich motorsport heritage, but in a short space of time as a federation we've earned a strong reputation of delivering world-class international events such as Formula E and the Dakar Rally.
"As a result, Saudi Arabia is home to literally millions of passionate young fans of motorsport, many of whom will already be smiling and counting down to seeing their heroes in November 2021.
"Our plans will see us take the sport to even more people with a celebration that reaches all communities and is open to all."
