Max Verstappen hopes ‘definitely dangerous’ Jeddah track has now improved
Max Verstappen hopes to experience a less dangerous Jeddah track following the work to improve visibility at certain sections.
The goal of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, home of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, was to give the drivers a track which combined the usual need for precisions around a street circuit, while upping the stakes with a design that sees the cars weaving through these confines at high speed.
That aim has certainly been realised, though drivers had expressed concerns about poor visibility at certain parts of the track.
As a result, the circuit has worked with Formula 1 and the FIA to make a series of modifications in a bid to ease the driver’s worries.
And as the reigning World Champion and 2022 Saudi Arabian GP victor Verstappen gets set to tackle the Jeddah track once again, he hopes to find a circuit that has done away with this unnecessary danger.
“After a great start in Bahrain I don’t expect it to be an easy task in Jeddah, it is a completely different circuit and needs the car to be quick,” he said. “Nevertheless, with the high-speed corners, I do believe we can have a strong car around this track.
“The track changes that have been made are mainly for visibility, so hopefully it has improved things a bit for us drivers, as it was definitely dangerous in some areas. It’s a really cool street circuit, with quite a lot of grip, so I always enjoy going back there to race.”
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As for Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, the return to Jeddah is a shot at redemption for him.
The Mexican racer claimed pole here in 2022 and was leading the race, but the timing of the Safety Car proved most unfortunate in the context of his race as he went on to finish P4.
Quite simply then, Perez hopes that this time around it is “my turn to win”.
“We have to try and keep the momentum going from Bahrain,” said Perez. “There are definitely a lot of improvements we can still do, to try and make our car better.
“We gathered plenty of information from the first race and we have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes.
“It will be very interesting to see how everyone performs in Jeddah this week, it is a very different track to Bahrain.
“我佛rward to going back to this circuit after getting pole in 2022. I was very unlucky last year with the timing of the Safety Car while leading the race so hopefully it can be my turn to win.”
