Prince Saudi Arabia wants people to understand his country better thanks to GP

Formula 1 announced on Thursday that it will go to Saudi Arabia in 2021. An addition to the F1 calendar that has been coming up for some time now, especially since the Saudi oil company Aramco has been the main sponsor of Formula 1. Both parties have the intention to enter into a long-term cooperation.

According to the British, the reports received by the BBC indicate that this is a ten-year alliance. Things are expected to change in those years. Where in 2021 people are still racing on a street circuit in Djedda, they want to switch to a permanent circuit in the future.

From Djedda to Qiddiya, a completely new city

This circuit is being built in Qiddiya. Until recently that was an empty spot in the desert outside the capital Riyadh. A city is basically being built here that is completely dedicated to entertainment, with golf courses, amusement parks and now a race circuit.

It is not true, according to Prince Abdulaziz, that Saudi Arabia would use the project and Formula 1 to make violations of human rights in the country be forgotten. According to him, the organisation abides by all international rules. "Saudi Arabia was criticised for being closed off to the world, and now we have opened up. If we can use sport to bring people together and understand Saudi Arabia, why not?"