“All journalists, television crews and photographers are of course focusing on the titanic duel. Everyone realizes that we are an eyewitness to upcoming motorsport history. It is not often that the battle between two racing giants is so close. Moreover, it is not just about Verstappen’s first title; Hamilton. would break Michael Schumacher’s record with his eighth title.”
Are there many fans coming?
“I am sure several thousand enthusiasts have booked a flight and a hotel, but it is not easy to get here. Not at all in corona time. But this race exists mainly thanks to petrodollars, an open money tap and the will of the regime to control the kingdom via to put a global sport on the map.”
“Real Formula 1 fans are few and far between here. A blemish on the grand prix that can decide the world championship. Not the only blemish, by the way. This race is also very controversial because of the human rights situation in this country.”
Formula 1 is in Jeddah for the first time. What kind of circuit is it?
“It doesn’t really look like anything, although with some imagination you could say that the track resembles Baku (Azerbaijan). The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is six kilometers long, has 27 turns, is dizzyingly fast and the inexorable walls are close by “Drivers who have practiced in the simulator all say the same thing: there is no room for error here. It would be a miracle if we were presented with a race here on Sunday without a safety car.”
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