عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Saudi Arabia Kicks off Countdown to its First Ever F1 Race

Saudi Arabia unveils a clock that will countdown the days to its hosting of its first ever F1 race. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia unveils a clock that will countdown the days to its hosting of its first ever F1 race. (SPA)
TT
20
TT

Saudi Arabia Kicks off Countdown to its First Ever F1 Race

Saudi Arabia unveils a clock that will countdown the days to its hosting of its first ever F1 race. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia unveils a clock that will countdown the days to its hosting of its first ever F1 race. (SPA)

President of Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal launched on Monday the countdown for the Kingdom’s hosting of its first ever Formula One race.

The landmark event will be held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on December 3 – 5.

The countdown clock was unveiled at the Jeddah corniche in the presence of numerous officials and representatives.

The Rolex clock, an icon of Formula One, showed that only 300 days remain for the historic race to be held. The clock is seven meters high and 16 meters wide and will remain at the corniche until the race is staged.

Prince Khalid said that the unveiling of the clock marks the beginning of official preparations for the global event, which the Kingdom views as part of its aspirations of Vision 2030.

He thanked the Kingdom’s leadership for supporting the hosting of the race and other sports events.

Details of the racetrack have yet to be revealed.

Saudi Arabia has become increasingly prominent on the motorsports scene, hosting the Dakar Rally in January while two races of the all-electric Formula E series are scheduled for Diriyah in February.

A new Extreme E off-road electric series is due to race in AlUla in March while tennis, boxing and golf have held high-profile events in the Kingdom.

State-owned energy giant Saudi Aramco is a global partner of Formula One and Saudi companies have sponsored teams.

Most Viewed

 
Sports

Club World Cup: Al-Hilal Bows Out After a Run That ‘Exceeded Expectations’

Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)
Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)
TT
20
TT

Club World Cup: Al-Hilal Bows Out After a Run That ‘Exceeded Expectations’

Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)
Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)

Al-Hilal exited from the 2025 Club World Cup yesterday, following a 2-1 defeat to Brazil's Fluminense in their quarter-final match.

Substitute Hercules scored his second goal in as many second-half appearances to lift Fluminense into the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Al Hilal on Friday in Orlando, Fla.

Martinelli also scored late in the first half to continue a fabulous tournament for the Rio de Janeiro club and Brazil overall. Palmeiras also got to the quarterfinals before falling 2-1 on Friday to Chelsea, who will oppose Fluminense on Tuesday in a semifinal match at East Rutherford, N.J.

Al Hilal exits despite a fourth tournament goal for striker Marcos Leonardo, who was in for the injured Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Saudi side was the last from Asia remaining, having pulled off the tournament's biggest upset with a 4-3, extra-time victory over Manchester City in the second round on Monday.

Hercules put Fluminense in front for good in the 70th minute when he was rewarded for his own persistence.

After his first long-range shot was deflected high into the air, he continued his run forward as teammate Samuel Xavier won the next header.

It landed at the feet of Hercules, whose wonderful first touch put him in shooting position before his second sent a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner, prompting jubilation from yet another pro-Brazilian crowd at this tournament.

Al Hilal pressured Fluminense in the dying stages, but couldn't create a clear look on Fabio's net.

Martinelli put Fluminense in front in the 40th minute on a brilliant strike. His first touch took Gabriel Fuentes' pass beyond a charging Al Hilal defender, and his second unleashed a ferocious left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to the top right corner from about 15 yards.

A minute into first-half stoppage time, Fluminense keeper Fabio sprawled to his left to push Kalidou Koulibaly's powerful header beyond the post.

After nearly leveling before halftime, Koulibaly won another dangerous header six minutes into the second half from a corner.

This time it landed at the feet of Leonardo, who balanced himself and scooped a finish from close range past Fabio and two defenders on the line.

It remained level four minutes later when Bounou sprawled to his right to take the ball off the feet of German Cano trying to round him on the dribble after intercepting a pass deep in the attacking half.

Liverpool FC and Portugal national team star Diogo Joto and his brother Andre Silva, who died Thursday in Spain in a car accident, were honored with a pregame moment of silence.