After a shaky start to the season, Mercedes comes to Jeddah. The goal? To consolidate the progress shown in the first races.
Saudi Arabian GP: Jeddah Challenge for Mercedes
Designed by Hermann Tilke and opened in 2021, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is one of the most unique tracks on the calendar. At 6174 metres, it alternates long straights with some of the closest corner sequences of the entire season, creating a fast and challenging layout.
On this track, second gear is rarely used, only at the start or during pit stops. The performance of the power unit will therefore be crucial to make the most of the high-speed zones.
However, aerodynamic efficiency will also play a key role in maintaining the right balance on a circuit that does not allow for mistakes.
Tyre degradation on the Jeddah track is generally low, which is why a single-stop race is expected. However, Pirelli has chosen to introduce a softer tyre compound than in the previous edition, which could influence strategies.
Mercedes in Jeddah: Watch Out for the Brakes, the Challenge Is Not Only Speed
Despite being one of the fastest and smoothest tracks on the calendar, Jeddah has several intense braking sections that put the entire braking system under stress. According to Brembo, there are points where deceleration is particularly brutal.
The most demanding is the entrance to the chicane in the first sector (Corners 1-2-3). Here the difference between the top speed and the minimum speed reached on the run-in approaches 200 km/h.
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New Technical Challenge After Bahrain
The team now looks to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, one of the most fascinating and demanding challenges of the season. Its fast corners, long straights and city layout impose technical solutions very different from those seen at Sakhir.
“Jeddah represents a completely different challenge,”- ‘While Bahrain puts stress on the rear of the cars, in Saudi Arabia the main limitation concerns the front end. The track alternates between high and medium speed sections, and this requires very careful aerodynamic balancing.” – Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal.
Even if the values on the field are still unclear, Mercedes wants to give continuity to the positive signals seen in the first outings.
“To make predictions at this stage would be premature, but our goal is clear: we want to stay in the fight for the podium.”
What To Expect From Mercedes in Jeddah?
As has already been pointed out, the work carried out by the Brackley engineers on the W16 is starting to show. The single-seater finally seems to have left behind the complicated period that began in 2022, showing concrete signs of growth.
According to the team’s engineers, the new aerodynamic and mechanical package provides greater load and overall stability than previous versions. Even the few slow sections at Jeddah should not be an obstacle for George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Now we just have to wait and see what the race weekend in Jeddah holds. It will be an opportunity for Mercedes to confirm the progress made and for Russell and Antonelli to show the true potential of the W16.
READ NEXT: F1: History of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / MAXPPP
Recording Date: 17.04.2025
