RIYADH: With its fifth edition in 2025, the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is no longer the new kid on the block.
While the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has established the Saudi event on the racing calendar over the last five years, the future of motorsports is in Riyadh’s new city of Qiddiya.
Abdulaziz Alaqel, senior executive director of development at Qiddiya, says the vision for motorsports at the entertainment and tourism megaproject is based on three key pillars.
Firstly, to become the new home of global motorsports, setting the highest standards across the board including the track, facilities and fan experience.
Secondly, delivering offerings which will create the most dynamic and immersive motorsports entertainment destination in the world.
And finally to host national, regional and international events and championships, providing a sustainable platform for the future of Saudi motorsport.
“These three elements create a combined vision which is achieved across the large range of entertainment, sports, cultural and hospitality assets within the motorsport development at Qiddiya,” Alaqel said.
“It is also critical that the development allows for a multimodal motorsport offering, which supports the vast range of races which are to be hosted at Qiddiya.”
Several components will feature within the project, including the Qiddiya City Speed Park Track and the Mercedes-AMG World of Performance.
“Qiddiya City’s Speed Park Track is designed to take race day to the next level, delivering a high-octane, supercharged experience to those who love the sport and identify with the thrill of power and speed,” said Alaqel.
“The Speed Park Track redefines and elevates the motorsports experience, ensuring that it’s extraordinary and accessible to not only professionals and their fans but also to enthusiasts of all kinds.”
Some of the most unique features of the Speed Park Track is the combination of a permanent open section and street configuration, with 21 corners constituting a lap.
The 80 garages will have the capacity to host multiples racing series and championships, Alaqel said.
“On top of hosting high-visibility racing events, the Speed Park Track will also regularly host open track days for enthusiasts during the quieter off-season,” he added.
“Speed Park Track is capable to host the world’s largest and biggest motorsport events, including Formula 1, MotoGP, Formula E, and many more.
“The Speed Park Track will also serve as a home base for many of the country’s various motorsport clubs, where enthusiasts get to showcase their machines, network with people of similar interests, attend trade shows, and compete in tournaments.”
Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG World of Performance will be a combination of immersive rides, interactive experiences and exhibits. It will bring the world of Mercedes-AMG and its famed Petronas F1 team closer to its international army of fans.
Consisting of nine floors of Mercedes-AMG branded space, spanning 45,000 sq. meters, the center will be positioned adjacent to the Qiddiya City Speed Park Track.
“The Mercedes-AMG Driving experience will utilize this direct track access, placing guests behind the wheel of AMG’s latest models and alongside dedicated professional drivers, there to coach motorsport fans on how to achieve fast lap times and advanced driving techniques,” said Alaqel.
For fans of the modern history of the sport, the Mercedes-AMG World of Performance will showcase a collection of Mercedes-AMG’s finest, rarest, and boldest designs, from classic road cars to performance cars.
During a Mercedes-AMG World of Performance Play Panel ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Abdullah Aldawood, MD of Qiddiya Investment Co., spoke about the pact.
“I think the spirit of the partnership between Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes F1 and Qiddiya City is to take it beyond just a one-weekend Grand Prix through the Mercedes World of Performance, to take the next leap.”
Reema Juffali, the Saudi Arabia founder and racing driver of Theeba Motorsport, speaking on the same panel, said she was excited about the partnership.
“For me, hearing something like Qiddiya and Mercedes in Saudi investing in our people, investing in the future of sport, of motorsport in Saudi is extremely exciting.
“It’s something that I want to be part of, helping the next generation of Saudis, and I can’t wait to see it and be a part of it.”
Meanwhile Toto Wolf, team principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, called the development “the most spectacular Mercedes AMG presence in the world.”
“You haven’t seen anything like this on the racetracks that exist,” added the man who has led his team to eight consecutive Formula One Constructors’ Championships (2014-2021) and seven consecutive Drivers’ Championships (2014-2020).
“We are talking about this vision, but what this track is going to look like, the layout of the corners, up in the air, I mean it’s going to be truly fascinating.”
Alaqel added: “The spectator facilities being developed are not typical to a racing circuit … whereby there are no permanent grandstands, and guests can move between a relaxed style of landscape terracing.
“The motorsport development is fully integrated with the adjacent entertainment, cultural and hospitality assets, whether this is through the Speed Park Track which cuts through the adjacent locations or the entertainment assets which border the Aquarabia park and East Village.”
Alaqel said Qiddiya would be “the world’s first city built for play, where thrilling entertainment and sports meet culture experiences,” enhanced by other developments.
Motorsport would add to the “world class sporting venues and events, immersive and authentic entertainment offerings as well as cultural assets, combining in a succinct development putting play and the customer first.
“The motorsport development within Qiddiya will help put Saudi Arabia motorsport on the map, bringing guests in from all around the world to experience and enjoy all that is on offer.”
He said the construction of the shell and core for the Mercedes-AMG World of Performance began last year. It was “progressing very well” with the completion of the soil investigation and substructure, and work was starting on the superstructure and facade.
Alaqel believes the partnership between Qiddiya and Mercedes-AMG will cement the city’s status as one of the world’s leading motorsport destinations, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.
“The Mercedes-AMG World of Performance will contribute to the ambitions of Qiddiya city to become the capital of entertainment, sports, and culture, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s global position in sports, culture and entrainment,” he said.
It would further “positively contribute to the quality of life for Qiddiya City visitors and residents.”
