Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill says he’s “worried” by the high-speed street circuit that will be used for this weekend’s inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Billed as the fastest street circuit in the world, organisers have been racing against time to get the track built in time for this weekend’s race.
“The track we’re going to discover, I think it’s going be a big challenge, by the looks of things,” Hill said on the F1 Nation podcast.
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“I’m a bit worried about the speed. I mean, there’s not much run-off. They’ve got the SAFER barrier that they’re using, which is like they do in Indianapolis, but it’s going to be be very high speed and not much run-off.
“So [it’s] high-risk, high jeopardy. That always gets your attention as a racing driver.”
Since 2017 Formula 1 has visited the high-speed Baku circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a track that some, including Hill have likened to the new circuit in Jeddah.
“I think it’s a very difficult one to judge, because it’s such an unusual-looking track,” said Hill.
“I compared it to possibly like Baku, and I was told off by Ross Brawn who said, ‘No, no, it’s not like that at all. It’s a completely different type of track. It’s got banked corners and stuff’.
“Some of the sweeps look quite long, so I’m racking my brains – I think it could be a cross between something like Singapore and Baku.”
Max Verstappen holds an eight-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the world championship with just two races to go, however the Mercedes driver appears to have all the momentum after wins in Brazil and Qatar.
Hamilton’s fate remains in his own hands, if he wins both races he will be champion for a record eighth time, regardless of where Verstappen finishes.
As well as a brand new track this weekend, the Abu Dhabi circuit has been revised ahead of next week’s finale.
“I think it’s great that nobody knows where they’re going. This is a completely unknown place, an unknown track,” Hill said.
“It’s at that crucial point in the championship. This is going to be so important for the championship.”
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