The first-ever Formula 1 Saudi Grand Prix is to take place in 2021, InsideRacing has been told.
Earlier in the day, RaceFans reported the country, which hosts a Formula E race in Ad Diriyah and held this year’s Dakar Rally, was “increasingly likely” to join the F1 calendar next year.
And now a source close to those involved in Saudi’s F1 project has confirmed to this website that will be the case.
The race will take place on a street circuit in the southern city of Jeddah but that is only a temporary venue until the new permanent track at Qiddiya, near Riyadh, is completed in around 2023-24.
This year has seen Saudi Arabia increase its presence in F1 after state oil company Aramco signed a sponsorship deal, which includes being the title sponsor of three races on the revised 2020 calendar.
RaceFans suggests the Saudi GP is likely to take place later in 2021 to give maximum timing for the design and creation of the street circuit, as well as to likely give the Covid-19 pandemic a chance to settle.
The race perhaps most likely to make way is the Spanish GP, which doesn’t have a contract beyond this year, although, with the return of Fernando Alonso, that prospect may be a lot less likely.