F1 Saudi Arabian GP 2021: full race start time

Jeddah GP

2021 Saudi Arabian GP |F1 debut

Saudi Arabian GP F1 2021: Timetable and race schedule.

Jeddah GP, Pirelli’s choice (tyres)

Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli have had to rely on simulations provided by teams to make selections for the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, describing the event as their “biggest unknown” of the 2021 season.

These simulations suggested that the three middle compounds in Pirelli’s range are the best option for the all-new Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which is predominantly made up of long straights and sweeping high-speed corners.

As such, the C2 will be used as the Hard tyre, the C3 as the Medium and the C4 as the Soft – the most commonly-selected nomination in 2021.

READ: TYRES – WHAT IS BLISTERING AND GRAINING

Saudi Arabian GP F1 2021-tyres-Pirelli-Jeddah

Mario Isola:

“Jeddah is probably the biggest unknown we face all year, as with the track being completed very close to the race. As a result, we can only rely on simulations from F1 and the teams, along with other information we’ve collected, to come up with our nomination.”

READ: BOLT AND SCREW PRELOAD FREE CALCULATOR | MECHANIC CALC TOOL – TORQUE

Unique’ Saudi track F1’s ‘most ambitious project’

The 6.174km circuit will feature 27 corners, but Tilke believes the high-speed layout has plenty to challenge the drivers – and pinpointed his favourite area of the track.

Tilke:

“What will be interesting is there are three possible DRS zones directly behind each other,” he said. “So it’s three DRS zones and every time different corners after that, which can be really interesting. It’s not just straights, it’s a DRS zone but you have to be really concentrating because there are walls directly next to it – you have to steer. What I think is very interesting is the passage from T4 to T10. It’s a very fast, flowing S combination. This will also be challenging for the drivers to find the right lines, and T13 is also a cool 12% banked corner so there are a lot of different elements.”

TRACK CHARACTERISTICS

The track has been designed by well-known circuit architect Hermann Tilke and is located in Jeddah’s Corniche area. This is the first proper street circuit since Baku in June.

This 6.174-kilometre track – which runs alongside the coast – is the longest street circuit on the calendar (the second-longest of the entire year, after Spa) and is also set to be one of the fastest too, with an average speed of over 250kph predicted in simulations. That’s only just behind Monza, well-known as the ‘Temple of Speed’.

One of the most demanding of the 27 corners is Turn 13: a left-hander featuring 12-degree banking that should place high g forces on the tyres. Jeddah has more corners than any other track on the calendar, which will keep the tyres working hard.

Many parts of the circuit are quite narrow and unforgiving, with the walls close to the side of the track. This could lead to a reasonably high safety car probability, affecting strategy.

Saudi Arabian GP F1 2021- Jeddah GP- track characteristics

Jeddah is a night race, like all the last three races of the season, with the grand prix getting underway at 20:30 local time. This means that the pattern of track temperature is different to a normal race, with temperatures dropping over the course of each session. FP1 and FP3 are held just before sunset, with only FP2 on Friday and qualifying on Saturday (both starting at 20:00) likely to be representative of the race.

Conditions are set to be warm but humid, with the track located right along the northern coast at Jeddah. As it’s never been used before, drivers can expect a slippery and ‘green’ track at the start of the weekend. Formula 2 and a Porsche competition are running as support events, which will help track evolution.

FIRST LOOK: F1 2021 hot lap of new Jeddah circuit ahead of first Saudi Arabian GP

Sir Frank Williams, founder of Williams Racing F1 team, dies aged 79

Tributes from across motor sport have been paid after the death of Sir Frank Williams, at the age of 79. Williams founded the team that bore his name in 1977 and went on to enjoy enormous success in Formula One. His achievements have been recognised across the racing world after he died peacefully on Sunday.

Their driver champions alone reads as a roll of honour. Alan Jones secured their first title in 1980 and Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve all went on to take championships for Williams.

Alongside his co-founder and designer, Patrick Head, Williams built a team that competed at the very top of the sport for decades, overcoming the might of longstanding rivals such as Ferrari. Williams also overcame great personal tragedy when he was paralysed from the neck down after a car accident in 1986. Confined to a wheelchair he went on to lead his team with the same steely tenacity that characterised his whole career.

Race start time for F1 Saudi Arabian GP (CEST).

Friday 3rd December:

  • Free Practise 1       14:30-15:30
  • Free Practise 2    18:00-19:00

Saturday 4th December:

  • Free Practise 3        15:00-16:00
  • Qualifying       18:00-19:00

Sunday 5th December:

  • Race                        18:30-20:30