F1’s wildest climb: Qiddiya’s 20‑storey curve takes shape

Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with its ambitious Qiddiya Speed Park project despite the Gulf conflict that forced Formula 1 to overhaul the 2026 calendar and abandon Jeddah. The futuristic complex, part of a new city rising in the desert, will host the 2028 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and now shows major construction progress. The spotlight is on “The Blade,” an extraordinary elevated Turn 1 designed by Hermann Tilke.

Inspired partly by Austin’s famous opening corner, it will feature the steepest climb in F1, built atop a structure as tall as a 20‑storey building to create an artificial elevation never seen before. Beneath the ramp, fans will be able to walk roughly 70 metres below the cars. A recent video highlights the near‑completed superstructure and the emerging layout carved into the sand, set to become the longest circuit on the calendar. With Alexander Wurz consulting, Qiddiya appears on track for its 2028 debut.