2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah, Dec 03 - 05

[mclaren111]

Can we expect really poor grip situations here?

No apparently they have specically put a high grip tarmac which is very expensive and most advanced to any other circuit in terms of tyre grip. They sourced a special company and composition of the track surface, to work with the tyres and provide great grip without even running from other cars.

This is all I can think of. What could go wrong?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... A&usqp=CAU

[mclaren111]

Andrew Benson:




Predicted Cornering Speeds...

[WaikeCU]

Is there a such thing nowadays as tracks being counter clockwise being more physical? I remember it was the case in the past, hence why Interlagos was always a very tough GP.

This is a counter clockwise, very high speed, street-kind track in a desert environment with high air temperatures. It can't get tougher than this does it?

[basti313]

No apparently they have specically put a high grip tarmac which is very expensive and most advanced to any other circuit in terms of tyre grip. They sourced a special company and composition of the track surface, to work with the tyres and provide great grip without even running from other cars.

Source?

I've found the source, F1 Nation podcast, Saudi GP preview. The race promoter claims the track grip will be one of the highest of an F1 circuit.

Interesting...this would murder the tires. I still think that the super fast corners are super relevant for laptime.

[Mr5in1]

I was wondering if this track being a street circuit where overtaking is as difficult as say Singapore potentially we find a similar strategy that had been adopted in more recent Singapore races where the teams nurse the cars and tyres for a while then a spurt of activity heading towards a 1-stopper.

I hear Williams are running some old cars this weekend I hope its the FW07 in Saudi Airline colours!

As in old liveries, or they are taking some heritage cars out there as well? Would be lovely to send some of the old cars round the track here.

It's going to be a pretty emotional race in that respect actually. I really hope they do something big and suitably fitting to honour Sir Frank. The last of the great privateers.

Interesting story I believe it is a heritage Williams that's been in storage out that way for 30 years, Alan Jones is driving so I suspect heritage car. It was on the F1 Nation podcast, nice word from Damon Hill about Frank too.

[El Scorchio]

I was wondering if this track being a street circuit where overtaking is as difficult as say Singapore potentially we find a similar strategy that had been adopted in more recent Singapore races where the teams nurse the cars and tyres for a while then a spurt of activity heading towards a 1-stopper.

I hear Williams are running some old cars this weekend I hope its the FW07 in Saudi Airline colours!

As in old liveries, or they are taking some heritage cars out there as well? Would be lovely to send some of the old cars round the track here.

It's going to be a pretty emotional race in that respect actually. I really hope they do something big and suitably fitting to honour Sir Frank. The last of the great privateers.

Interesting story I believe it is a heritage Williams that's been in storage out that way for 30 years, Alan Jones is driving so I suspect heritage car. It was on the F1 Nation podcast, nice word from Damon Hill about Frank too.

Sounds great! Hope it gets some good coverage. I actually listened to that podcast yesterday because of the Frank Williams part. Very nice to hear Damon and others talking about him.

[dans79]

Andrew Benson:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FFciftZWUAY ... me=900x900


Predicted Cornering Speeds...

So he thinks turns 1,2,4,8,9, 13,16,22,& 27 will be actual turns, and everything else will be flat.Personally I could see 8 & 9 being flat as well, or at least during qualifying!

[AeroDynamic]

[godlameroso]

Andrew Benson:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FFciftZWUAY ... me=900x900


Predicted Cornering Speeds...

So he thinks turns 1,2,4,8,9, 13,16,22,& 27 will be actual turns, and everything else will be flat.Personally I could see 8 & 9 being flat as well, or at least during qualifying!

9 16 and 22 will separate the men from the boys. You can gain so much and get it so wrong there.

9 will never be flat because it sets up every corner afterwards which you absolutely want to get flat. Therefore a tiny lift at the very least. It's a very challenging sequence, sacrificing a little entry speed through 4 lets you keep a straighter line up to 8, but also puts you at a slight disadvantage for the entry to 9. If you take 4 at higher speed you're forced to take a wider arc through 7 which will make 8 put you right at the edge of the track for 9. So there's different ways to achieve the same thing.

[FW17]

Andrew Benson:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FFciftZWUAY ... me=900x900


Predicted Cornering Speeds...

Those speeds suggest a medium downforce rear wing, not a Monza style wing for the second fastest track of the year. Little disappointed.

[AeroDynamic]

Let's say the cars are surprisingly very close this weekend. The guy behind has a disadvantage chasing the leader with dirty air on the tyres. But psychologically, who is at a disadvantage trying to avoid mistakes in such a high stakes / high risk-high reward circuit? the margins for tolerating mistake by this track are very small but you need to go very very fast here.

is the leader going to push to hard, or the chaser?

[AeroDynamic]

[Wouter]

What's the video about? It's geo blocked.

[NL_Fer]

No apparently they have specically put a high grip tarmac which is very expensive and most advanced to any other circuit in terms of tyre grip. They sourced a special company and composition of the track surface, to work with the tyres and provide great grip without even running from other cars.

Source?

I've found the source, F1 Nation podcast, Saudi GP preview. The race promoter claims the track grip will be one of the highest of an F1 circuit.

Maximum grip, maximum full throttle parts, high average speed. Can the tire’s internal structure keep itself together? Are we going to see thread rip of the sidewall at 300+ kph

[AnthonyG]

Isn't this track just an Imola with closer walls?