Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Jeddah Corniche Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Jeddah, Makkah Province
- Type
- street circuit
- Length
- 6.174 km (3.836 mi)
- Turns
- 27
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2021
- Owner
- Saudi Motorsport Company
- Capacity
- 50,000
- Address
- Jeddah Corniche
- Website
- jeddah-corniche-circuit.com
Track map and layout
Jeddah Corniche Circuit runs along the Red Sea waterfront and is the fastest street circuit in Formula 1, with drivers reaching average lap speeds above 250 km/h thanks to long flat-out sections, high-speed blind corners and three consecutive DRS zones. At 6.174 km it is the third-longest circuit on the F1 calendar behind Spa-Francorchamps and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, and its 27 turns are mostly fast, low-downforce sweepers rather than tight street-circuit hairpins, making walls and barrier proximity the main challenge rather than slow-speed technicality. It was designed by Carsten Tilke, continuing the Tilke family's long association with modern F1 circuit design.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix circuit | 6.17 km | current F1 layout, 27 turns |
| Formula E layout | 3.00 km | shorter street configuration used for the Jeddah ePrix, 19 turns |
| Short circuit | 3.45 km | used for some support and club racing, 12 turns |
Events and race weekends
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit's headline event is the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, run as a night race since its 2021 debut and moved to an April date from 2025 onward after previously being held in March around Ramadan. The circuit also hosts a Formula E Jeddah ePrix on a shorter waterfront layout, plus regional and international support categories including the F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, World Touring Car Cup and GT World Challenge rounds.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Formula 1 | April | night race, held since 2021 |
| Jeddah ePrix | Formula E | February | run on a shorter street configuration |
| F4 Saudi Arabian Championship | Formula 4 | varies | support races |
Getting there and parking
King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) is the main gateway, around 15 km and under half an hour from the circuit, served by Saudia and major international carriers. There is no metro connection to the circuit; Uber and Careem are the most practical way to reach it from hotels, typically 20-30 minutes from central Jeddah, with some hotels running their own race-week shuttles.
- King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) · about 25 min drive
Parking
Circuit-area parking is limited on Grand Prix weekend; ride-hailing apps (Uber, Careem) or hotel shuttles are the recommended way to travel to and from the venue.
Book Uber or Careem rides well ahead of session end times on race weekend, as demand spikes sharply; some hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah run their own free circuit shuttles.
Hotels and camping near Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Visitors are generally advised to stay north of Jeddah's city centre, along or near the Corniche, both for the better hotel selection and for proximity to the circuit; a handful of hotels, including the Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah Corniche, are within walking distance of the track. Hotel rates and availability tighten considerably around the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, so early booking is recommended.
Where to look
North Jeddah / Corniche area (best hotel selection and closest to the circuit, including some walkable options); central Jeddah (more budget and aparthotel options, 20-30 minutes from the circuit by taxi).
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Jeddah Corniche Circuit does not have an established public track day program in the way some purpose-built circuits do; it operates primarily as a temporary street circuit for its scheduled international race weekends.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 race lap record (Grand Prix circuit) | 1:30.734 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes W12 | 2021 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands are built temporarily along the Corniche waterfront and around the pit straight for race week, with the high average speeds of the layout making for fast-moving racing even from a single vantage point. As a night race under floodlights, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has a similar after-dark atmosphere to Bahrain's race, with cooler evening temperatures than the daytime Red Sea heat.
Seating
Temporary grandstands line the pit straight and sections of the waterfront layout; ticketed grandstand and general admission zones are set up fresh for each event.
Best places to watch
Grandstands near the pit straight and the fast waterfront sections give the best sense of the circuit's high-speed character.
Weather
- April (F1 GP): warm evenings, typically around 28-32°C at race time with high humidity off the Red Sea
History of Jeddah Corniche Circuit
From groundbreaking to Grand Prix in months
Jeddah Corniche Circuit was built at remarkable speed, breaking ground in March 2021 and opening that December, in time to host the inaugural Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 5 December 2021 as the penultimate round of that season. Designed by Carsten Tilke, son of veteran F1 circuit architect Hermann Tilke, the layout traces the city's Corniche waterfront on the Red Sea, and was built as a temporary street circuit with a scale and speed unusual for the format.
The fastest street circuit in F1
From its debut, Jeddah Corniche Circuit distinguished itself as the fastest street circuit on the calendar, with long flat-out sections, high-speed blind corners and three consecutive DRS zones producing average lap speeds unmatched by any other street venue, and pole-position average speeds exceeding 250 km/h in recent seasons. At 6.174 km, it ranks as the third-longest circuit in Formula 1, behind only Spa-Francorchamps and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The inaugural race weekend in 2021 was also notable for a dramatic, incident-filled Grand Prix and a tense title-fight backdrop between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
A fixture on the calendar
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been run as a night race at Jeddah every year since 2021, initially scheduled in March, often close to Ramadan, before moving to an April date from 2025 onward. Beyond Formula 1, the circuit has hosted a Formula E Jeddah ePrix on a shorter waterfront configuration, along with F4 Saudi Arabian Championship, World Touring Car Cup and GT World Challenge events, establishing itself as the anchor venue for Saudi Arabia's rapidly expanding motorsport calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Jeddah Corniche Circuit?+
The Grand Prix layout is 6.174 km (3.836 miles) long with 27 turns, making it the third-longest circuit on the F1 calendar.
Why is Jeddah Corniche Circuit called the fastest street circuit?+
Its long flat-out sections, high-speed blind corners and three consecutive DRS zones produce average lap and pole speeds above 250 km/h, faster than any other street circuit used in Formula 1.
How do you get to Jeddah Corniche Circuit?+
King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) is about 25 minutes from the circuit; most visitors use Uber or Careem from Jeddah hotels, a typical 20-30 minute journey that lengthens on race day.
When is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix held?+
It has been run every year since 2021 as a night race, originally in March and moved to an April date from 2025 onward.
Where do F1 fans stay for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?+
Most visitors stay north of Jeddah's city centre near the Corniche, where the hotel selection is best and a few properties are within walking distance of the circuit.
What is the F1 lap record at Jeddah Corniche Circuit?+
Lewis Hamilton set the current race lap record of 1:30.734 for Mercedes at the inaugural 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Other tracks nearby
- Reem International Circuit · 767 km · road course
- Riyadh Street Circuit, Diriyah · 839 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.