Formula E is set to make a significant move in 2025 with its Saudi Arabian race taking place on a specially modified configuration of Formula 1's Jeddah Corniche Circuit. This circuit alteration will introduce four new chicanes, bringing a unique racing experience.

Experience the Evolution of Formula E in Saudi Arabia

Circuit Modifications and Features

The Race will unfold on a tweaked version of the circuit used by the WTCR touring car series in 2022. It intersects at the Turn 4 area of the regular F1 track and then two chicane complexes will be installed between Turns 25 and 26. Additionally, there will be two chicanes on the run to the start/finish line, adding braking area and improving the lift and coast coefficient for Formula E cars. The track is expected to be around 2.2 miles in length.This modification is a significant change from the previous Diriyah circuit, which was loved by Formula E teams and drivers. Envision's Sebastien Buemi expressed his thoughts, stating that Jeddah "was going to be a different experience" and "could be a nice change too." He added that it's a huge track with few corners and compared it to Portland, suggesting that it might lose some of the character of Diriyah.Nyck de Vries, the only Formula E driver with previous experience of the Jeddah circuit, also shared his views. He said he had "seen a little bit of the track" and that he would "miss Diriyah" as it was a "real Formula E track." He believed that Jeddah would be a different experience and that it could be a nice change for the drivers.

Impact of Construction and Location Change

The decision to change the location of the Saudi Arabian race was inevitable due to construction work in and around the Diriyah area. Construction dust had affected running at the pop-up track in recent seasons, and last year's double-header saw a distinctive single racing line emerge through some parts of the circuit.Diriyah hosted 11 E-Prixs starting in 2018, with Antonio Felix da Costa winning the first ever Gen2 race. Nyck de Vries and Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein are the two most successful drivers at Diriyah with two wins each.The CBX Group, headed by Carlo Boutgay, looked for an alternative location in Riyadh before opting for the 2025 races to be held on a truncated version of the Jeddah F1 facility on the banks of the Red Sea.This change marks a new chapter in Formula E's Saudi Arabian journey, bringing with it new challenges and opportunities for the drivers and the sport as a whole.