Saudi Arabia building a cool new F1 racetrack in Qiddiya

The Qiddiya Speed Park currently being constructed in the city of Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia comes packed with unusual and futuristic design solutions and will host Formula 1 races.

The length remains to be revealed, but it’s official that the longest configuration of the track has 21 turns. One of them is called Blade and follows the track as it rises 20 stories above ground on pylons. The designers reckon that this curve can be theoretically passed at a dizzying 325 km/h (202 miles per hour).

The construction company assures us that the track will be seamlessly integrated into the surrounding area, running past both city streets and the picturesque wilderness near the Jabal Tuwaiq Mountain Range. It will also incorporate a whole amusement park with Falcon’s Flight, the tallest and fastest roller coaster ever built. A concert stage will be sandwiched between the lower racetrack and the Blade overpass, so that there will be racecars zapping past the viewers at the stage all the time.

The design of the Speed Park has been carried out by famous designer Hermann Tilke and ex-F1 racer Alexander Wurz. According to the construction company, the track will be configurable with different lengths and difficulties for different motorsport events. It is currently expected to be commissioned in 2027. In the busy Formula 1 schedule, it may end up replacing the Jeddah Circuit, but the local organizing committee says there will be no need: Saudi Arabia can afford to host two events (in Jeddah and Qiddiya) per season.