JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi conducted a field tour of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to inspect security preparations and arrangements for the STC Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The governor was accompanied by Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Company.
They toured the teams’ pitlane, paddock area, operations room, track and met team representatives, wishing them luck in the upcoming race, which begins on Friday.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, known as the fastest street circuit in the calendar, is hosting the race for the fifth consecutive year from April 18-20. It is one of the most distinctive circuits, with 27 corners, more than any other circuit in the championship. The track extends over a distance of 6.176 km, and drivers face 16 left-hand turns and 11 right-hand turns while racing at astonishing speeds of up to 322 km per hour.
The circuit is famous for its streamlined design and narrow track, with three DRS zones that enhance the intensity of the competition and increase the excitement of the race.
Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural 2021 race but Red Bull have won the following three thanks to Max Verstappen in 2022 and 2024, and Sergio Perez in 2023.
Jeddah governor inspects Formula 1 preparations
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Jeddah governor inspects Formula 1 preparations
- Corniche Circuit is hosting race for 5th consecutive year from April 18-20
- Track extends over a distance of 6.176 km
US invests in counter-drone tech to protect FIFA World Cup venues
The US will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, the latest sign of governments stepping up drone defenses.
The FIFA World Cup will be a major test of President Donald Trump’s pledge to keep the US secure, with over a million travelers expected to visit for the tournament and billions more watching matches from overseas.
The threat of drone attacks has become a growing concern since the war in Ukraine has demonstrated their lethal capabilities. And recent drone incidents have worried both European and US airports.
“We are entering a new era to defend our air superiority to protect our borders and the interior of the United States,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Defense companies are developing a range of technologies aimed at countering drones, including tracking software, lasers, microwaves and autonomous machine guns.
The DHS did not specify which technologies it would deploy to World Cup venues. The announcement comes weeks after the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which sits under DHS, said it granted $250 million to 11 states hosting World Cup matches to buy counter-drone technologies.
Last summer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, called on Trump, a Republican, to bolster federal support for defending against drone attacks.
