F1’s Mario Kart-Inspired Saudi Track Proves It Has More Money Than Sense

On Saturday, Formula 1 will race in Saudi Arabia on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the fourth time. It’s officially the longest track in the calendar and boasts the most corners of any circuit in F1, but it’s not the only ridiculous location that F1 could race in the kingdom. Now, race promoters in the region have unveiled plans for a new track that looks right out of Mario Kart.

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The new circuit, which is proposed to be built near the country’s capital of Riyadh, is called the Qiddiya City Speed Park Track, and it’s absolutely bonkers. Scheduled for completion ahead of the 2027 F1 season, the track comprises 21 corners and flows around the city’s landscape to offer up more than 350 feet of elevation changes. For reference, the famously hilly Spa circuit in Belgium has around 330 feet of elevation changes.

That’s all well and good, but it’s far from the most mind-bending aspect of this track. That, instead, is something designers Alex Wurz and Hermann Tilke have called the Blade at turn one. This wholly ridiculous creation is a first corner that towers more than 20 stories above the ground in some kind of Rainbow Road-like design.

Qiddiya reveals its brand new “Speed Park Track” at Qiddiya City

Below, it’s not all trampolines, bouncy castles and other things that could offer a soft landing should things go south; instead images released of the track show a shopping center-like creation. No doubt where spectators will be treated to video of the action going on above their heads.

There’s no word on how much the construction of the new track is set to cost, but it’s sure to be a lot. However, when the city’s masterplan was relaunched late last year, it’s budget was set at more than $36 billion, reports travel site Skift.

The whole thing looks insane, like it’s gunning for Las Vegas’ crown as the biggest visual spectacle on the F1 calendar. But is that really what the sport needs?

If you head online right now, you can still pick up face value grandstand tickets for this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while events like Monza in Italy and Suzuka in Japan are either limited to pricey VIP offerings or are completely sold out of race day tickets months in advance.

To make matters more concerning, promoters aren’t posing this new track as a direct replacement for Jeddah when construction comes to an end ahead of the 2027 season. Instead, they’re saying that it could even sit alongside Jeddah on the calendar if a deal can be reached.

If three races in the U.S. irks some fans, imagine how pleased they’ll be about two in Saudi — even if they are more than 10 hours drive apart.

The track follows the landscape around the new city. Image: Saudi Press Agency

The track’s unveiling comes as Saudi Arabia continues pouring money into Formula 1. First, the company’s state-owned oil company Aramco signed a 10-year sponsorship deal worth more than $450 million, report ESPN. Then, the country agreed a 10-year contract to host a race in the country each year from 2021.

The two deals mean Saudi Arabia is one of F1’s biggest single contributors as they are valued at an estimated $505 million. It should come as no real surprise then, that the handling of last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the hands of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is currently under investigation for some pretty suspicious activity.