FIA F2 Championship, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Race Preview
The FIA Formula 2 Championship will line up for round 7 of 2021 this weekend at the Jeddah street course, which welcomes the series for the first time. Trident Motorsport drivers Bent Viscaal and Marino Sato will need to be highly adaptable to get the right chemistry with the track without any previous experience.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship is entering its final stint of the year with two events in the Middle East at Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, as the two locations will wrap up the 2021 season. This weekend, the F2 teams and drivers will cross swords on the semi-permanent Jeddah circuit, a completely new venue to all the competitors. The track has just been completed with almost no previous feedback, and there are many unknowns to deal with. It is located in the Jeddah Corniche, and measures 6.174 kilometers, flowing along the city’s shore. It is not a typical street course due to its length and the high average speeds expected. While it features no 90-degrees bends, it has 27 corners that drivers will have to carefully link together to keep up their pace. The walls are close to the track, which also include some backed sections. The proximity to the beach might lead to sand buildup as the area is often swept by gusts of wind.
Like all contenders, the Trident Motorsport drivers will line up at Jeddah with no direct experience. They will have to avoid making mistakes in practice and work on their setup to prepare for qualifying. Marino Sato and Bent Viscaal do not know the track except for simulator training. The team is expecting a high-level performance from them in the final part of the year. The team’s technical staff underwent thorough preparations, and the expectation is to see the Italian squad confirm the steady growth seen this season.
Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager:
The trip to Jeddah is an absolute first for us and presents huge unknowns for all the teams. The Trident Motorsport technical staff will do their 100 percent to support the drivers on a weekend that could also offer great opportunities to take. For Viscaal and Sato, it will be key to avoid mistakes in practice and keep a very high focus, to build the foundations for a positive weekend with a good qualifying session.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship will start the Jeddah weekend with a 45-minute practice session at 13:45 on Friday. Qualifying is scheduled for the same day at 18:20. Sprint Race 1 will be at 15:30 on Saturday, followed by Sprint Race 2 at 21:40. The Feature Race will conclude the weekend at 17:25 on Sunday. The action will be covered by the Sky Sports networks. Times are local, CET+2.