Saudi Motorsport Company Reveals Renderings of State-of-the-Art Track Pit Building for F1 Race

The pitlane building at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. (SAMF)
The pitlane building at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. (SAMF)
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Saudi Motorsport Company Reveals Renderings of State-of-the-Art Track Pit Building for F1 Race

The pitlane building at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. (SAMF)
The pitlane building at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. (SAMF)

The Saudi Motorsport Company has revealed new renderings of what the state-of-the-art pit and team building at the inaugural Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Jeddah will look like.

Considered the heart of the circuit – set to be F1’s fastest ever street track – the building will overlook the starting grid and back on to Jeddah’s majestic Red Sea coast.

The four-storey structure has been designed by Ulrich Merres, one of Hermann Tilke’s architects, and “takes the form of a composed landscape of multi-storey staggered buildings sitting splendidly alongside the main straight of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, defined in its detail by straight and sleek lines,” per a statement.

“Designed to fit harmoniously within the track and its surroundings, its architectural expression is equally inspired by its idyllic location on the banks of the Red Sea and the layout of the circuit.”

The pit building will offer views of both the track and the Jeddah waterfront, with the circuit being finely designed around the city’s corniche. It will house all team garages as well as the race control center and the exclusive Paddock Club premium hospitality suites, providing guests with a magnificent view down on to the pit lane and starting grid.

“We are delighted to share these exclusive renderings of our stunning Pit and Team Building with the world today,” said HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF).

“The Pit Building stands as a symbol of all that this race represents: welcoming, modern and spectacular.

“With only six months to go until the pinnacle of motorsport reaches Saudi Arabia, preparations are progressing at an incredible rate as our dedicated team gears up for the first ever Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. We can’t wait to welcome you to Jeddah next December for a weekend of record-breaking racing and world class entertainment.”

Located in Jeddah’s stunning Corniche area, approximately 12km north of the city center, the circuit skirts the Red Sea and encircles a lagoon, and with three potential DRS zones and an evening start time, it should produce spectacular racing under floodlights.

Developed with close collaboration between Tilke GmbH & Co. KG and the Formula 1 Motorsport team led by Ross Brawn, the circuit is atypical of many street circuits in that it utilizes existing roads as much as possible yet remains fast flowing in character.



Ranieri Turns Down Italy Job to Stay on at Roma as Senior Advisor 

Claudio Ranieri. (Getty Images)
Claudio Ranieri. (Getty Images)
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Ranieri Turns Down Italy Job to Stay on at Roma as Senior Advisor 

Claudio Ranieri. (Getty Images)
Claudio Ranieri. (Getty Images)

Claudio Ranieri said on Tuesday he has turned down the vacant Italy manager's job, after the four-times world champions sacked Luciano Spalletti, and will stay on with AS Roma as their senior advisor.

Former Napoli coach Spalletti, 66, announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 drubbing by Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Ranieri, who recently retired for a second time after his spell at Roma last season, said he was honored to have been offered the job by Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina.

"I thank President Gravina for the opportunity, a great honor, but I have reflected and decided to remain available to Roma in my new position totally," he told Italian news agency ANSA.

"The Friedkins (Roma owners) gave me their full support and backing for whatever decision I had made regarding the national team but the decision is mine alone."

Ranieri helped Roma finish fifth in Serie A last season to qualify for the Europa League. The 73-year-old Italian has been replaced by former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma.