The Formula 1 circus is arriving in Saudi Arabia for the second race of the season, on the Jeddah circuit, in a climate of poison and suspicion that almost prevails over the racing news.
While attention remains high on the case of the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, which fuels new background every day, the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is now also in the crosshairs.
If yesterday it was revealed that the Emirati manager would have intervened to cancel a penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), in the 2023 Saudi GP, today the BBC reports that, according to the same anonymous informant, Ben Sulayem would have put pressure on FIA officials for not granting certification to the Las Vegas circuit in time to host the GP held last November.
If it is not clear why the FIA number 1 would have been interested in preventing the race from taking place in the Nevada city - a novelty welcomed with enthusiasm by all the drivers with the exception of Max Verstappen - the circuit was certainly not exempt from flaws.
The one who paid the most was Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, whose SF-23 was almost torn to pieces by a manhole cover raised in the first free practice session.
A new affair, which still needs to be verified and clarified, which increases the pressure on Ben Sulayem, also brought into play because he allegedly asked Verstappen to publicly defend his team principal, who the driver's father, Jos, wants out as soon as possible from the stable.
The story of the manager's alleged advances towards a female collaborator may also have repercussions on the driver market and on the balance of power between the teams.
While waiting for the next episodes and to see what will happen on the track from Friday, Saudi is proceeding with its expansion project in the world of sport by presenting today the rendering of what should be the new Saudi Formula 1 circuit from 2028 onwards.
The facility, futuristic to say the least, will be built in Qiddiya, the enormous 'city of sport and entertainment' under construction about forty kilometers from Riyadh.
The 'Speed Park' includes a circuit designed by Hermann Tilke and former F1 driver Alex Wurz which, according to the creators, aims to combine features of permanent and road circuits to include different configurations.
The track includes 21 curves and a total height difference of 108 metres, including up to the first curve which will be called 'Blade' and will be illuminated with LED lights.
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