This archive report was first published on 29 September 2021.
Formula One is set to make its debut in Saudi Arabia, but the country is facing a tight deadline to complete its track in Jeddah. According to an official, the organizers are working round the clock to finish the track ahead of the race on December 3-5.
The track, which will be the second longest on the calendar, is still under construction, with buildings and infrastructure yet to be completed. A visit to the site revealed a flurry of activity, with cranes and diggers working tirelessly to meet the deadline.
Despite the challenges, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, is optimistic about the event's prospects. He revealed that there is a huge demand for tickets, with prices ranging from 2,000 to 35,000 Saudi riyals ($533 to $9,333).
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be the penultimate event of the 2021 Formula One calendar, which concludes in Abu Dhabi. However, the event has been met with criticism from human rights watchers, who accuse Saudi Arabia of 'sportswashing'.
