Saudi Arabia has repositioned itself as the epicentre of some of the world’s most significant sporting events over the past few years. We’ve seen an undisputed world heavyweight championship fight take place there, the first in over a quarter of a century.
They’ve also welcomed the biggest names in several other sports, including tennis, snooker, and golf. Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the most recognizable face in the world of football, has been playing domestic football in Saudi Arabia for a couple of years now, and they will be hoping that when Qiddiya is finished, it will have the potential to be the best Formula 1 circuit anywhere on the planet.
Measuring up against the top circuits
There’s stiff competition for Qiddiya; not only will it have to compete with the latest ultra-modern circuits, but it will have to keep the essence of some of the more traditional Formula 1 tracks.
Striking this balance is not going to be easy, even with the budget and number of experts involved; it is about finding a design that pleases fans, drivers, teams, and the broader Formula 1 community. It is a tricky balance to work with.
It can be easy for a new racing circuit to get tied into the new developments and the shiny new gadgets that technological advancements have afforded us, but it is also about striking a balance.
The project managers in Saudi Arabia overseeing the project have said on several occasions that there will be no restrictions on ideas, but that they must remain within the confines of the sport and not detract too much from the traditional elements of the circuit design.
Building for the future
As far as motorsport goes, Formula 1 is the crown jewel. It is by far the most-watched competition in this niche, and you only have to examine the betting markets during the season to see how deep and varied the gambling market is.
Each Formula 1 track has its own defining features and merits. The season opener in Australia this year was full of drama, close shaves, and was a perfect representation of how Max Verstappen’s season has panned out.
While the betting sites had Norris as the favourite going in, it was by no means a foregone conclusion, and, true to form, the sport has moved with the times, with a range of cryptocurrency markets now available to gamblers worldwide. Ignition Australia has spent the last few years integrating these blockchain and cryptocurrency ideas.
Although betting markets are becoming more contemporary, adopting blockchain and cryptocurrency payment options, there are other considerations to ensure that the broader sports and betting worlds can accommodate the changes we’ll see over the next decade or so due to fintech and the broader digital ecosystem.
They’ve already been able to incorporate some of the marketing ideas and strategies we have seen successfully integrated in the conventional casino world, such as giveaways, as you can see in the link below, and by fusing old ideas with new ones, this is often the best way to appeal to the broadest audience, and it will hopefully be a concept that Qiddiya designers take, too.
Factors to help Qiddiya succeed
There’s no denying that Qiddiya will be a success; it has been in the pipeline for years, and, if the 2027 date is to be believed, and it isn’t pushed back again, it’ll be a course that has been planned for close to a decade.
Riyadh Season has been an overwhelming success in other sports, including an enormous audience at Wembley Stadium in London for a heavyweight bout between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
Given that Saudi Arabia leaves no stone unturned in financing and ensuring its sports entertainment rivals that of any other country on Earth, its new Formula 1 circuit is likely to cause a considerable stir in the world of motorsports when it is unveiled.
With Qiddiya set to feature 21 corners, an elevation change of over 100 metres, and multiple industry experts and ex-Formula 1 drivers providing input into the course design. Every box is being ticked, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how the course shapes up when it is unveiled, hopefully for the 2027 season.
Final verdict
So, while it is still premature and there is a long way to go before we begin to get a sense of the intricacies and specific factors that will help Qiddiya stand out, the early omens are looking good.
They’re doing all the right things to ensure that it will be a world-class circuit. Of course, the acid test will be during the first race, in front of a packed crowd and televised to millions of people worldwide.
Don’t be surprised if Qiddiya becomes the leading circuit over the next decade, especially given the level of investment it is seeing; it could set the bar for all future Formula 1 circuit designs, which is how ambitious it is.
