mobile app bar

“It’s just like Suzuka but with walls!”: Red Bull boss Christian Horner shares his concerns over the ‘insanely’ high speed layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit

Somin Bhattacharjee
Published

"It's just like Suzuka but with walls!": Red Bull boss Christian Horner shares his concerns over the 'insanely' high speed layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit

Christian Horner thinks that racing in the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this weekend is going to be challenging due to it’s high speed layout.

F1 makes it’s debut in Saudi Arabia this weekend. None of the drivers have any experience in the newly constructed circuit in Jeddah and they will need time to find their feet. The 27 corner street circuit is expected to be the fastest in the world.

Some people have raised concerns over the high-speed layout of the track. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is one of them. Horner has labeled the track as ‘insane’ and compared it to a more dangerous version of the Suzuka circuit in Japan.

“We head to Saudi Arabia for their first race where the track looks insane from what I’ve seen.” Horner wrote on the Red Bull website.

“It’s hugely fast and the first sector is like Suzuka, but with walls! It is going to be a massive challenge and I’m sure there will be plenty of excitement and drama.”

Also read: Valtteri Bottas opens up about the time when staying in shape for F1 races nearly left him burnt out

Red Bull feel that Mercedes have the advantage in Saudi Arabia

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is narrow, fast paced and lined with concrete walls on either end. Taking Mercedes’ recent pace advantage into account, Horner feels that the Brackley based team will have the upper hand.

“We will be watching the Formula 2 race very carefully.” he commented.

“On paper, it looks like a power-sensitive circuit, so you’d say that tends to favour Mercedes, and it looks as though they feel that way too, but you just don’t know.”

Also read: Lewis Hamilton says he does not want a crash with Max Verstappen to decide the outcome of the Championship battle

The Abu Dhabi GP is going to very uncertain, says Horner

The Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi went through massive changes over the summer. The organizers think that the alterations will lead to better racing and more overtaking opportunities.

Horner feels that these changes will not favor Red Bull.

“In 2020, we were the first team to beat Mercedes in Abu Dhabi since 2013, but they’ve changed the circuit considerably,” he said.

“We will be preparing as best as we can to go there and perform and see where we end up. Whatever happens at the end of this championship, we will know that we have given it everything we have got.”

“The racing this year has been incredible. The rivalry is intense. It polarizes opinions, but it also draws in a huge audience, which has been wonderful to be a part of.”  Horner concluded.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

x-iconinstagram-iconlinkedin-icon

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

Share this article