The Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) — promoter of the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 — has Tuesday announced the release of General Admission (GA) tickets that will see the capacity for the inaugural F1 race weekend in Jeddah increased to 100%, having initially only released 40% of available tickets due to COVID precautions. The news comes as the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MoH) declared the easing of existing health protocols from Sunday. The new guidance will allow for full capacity in public places, transportation, restaurant and cinemas. Further to the MoH announcement, the release of GA tickets comes as anticipation for the arrival of Formula 1 in Jeddah grows by the day and arrives hot on the heels of last week's confirmation that Jason Derulo and Tiësto, as well as Justin Bieber, A$AP Rocky & David Guetta, will headline the post-racing concerts on Saturday, Dec. 4, and Sunday, Dec. 5, respectively. Moreover, with this year's title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen set to go down to the wire, the first ever F1 race in Saudi Arabia could prove to be a crucial moment in this historic contest. The GA ticket offers fans another exciting option to choose from as the biggest weekend of sport and entertainment in the Kingdom's history draws ever closer. Indeed, this ticket has something for the ardent F1 fan as well as the casual adventure seeker, allowing you a standing view of the on-track action alongside all the exhilarating experiences and activities on offer in the Fanzone — where big screens will also be showing the track action — over three incredible days at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. In addition, the GA ticket also guarantees access to each of the nightly post-racing headline concerts featuring some of the biggest names in world music today! Whether you're a thrill-seeker or a fun-seeker, the General Admission ticket has you covered! Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman SAMF, welcomed Tuesday's announcement: "We are delighted to expand our ticket offering to fans in light of today's decision by the Ministry of Health. When we first envisaged hosting a Formula 1 race in Saudi Arabia, we always planned on having a full house to mark this wonderful occasion. "As such, it gives me great pleasure to offer fans our fantastic General Admission tickets alongside the choice of our existing packages. With grandstand and premium hospitality tickets selling out fast, this is a welcome new option for fans who still want to join us as we make history together in December. "My message is clear: don't miss out and get your tickets to three days of unforgettable entertainment now! We can't wait to welcome you all to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit very soon." Scheduled to make its F1 debut on Dec. 3-5, 2021, Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 will mark its arrival in style with the newest circuit in the sport estimated to see drivers reach average speeds of 250km/h, making it the fastest street circuit in the world — and in the top five fastest F1 circuits altogether! Indeed, superstars of F1 are projected to reach top speeds of up to 322km/h as they race towards Turn 27. Featuring no less than 27 corners, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit stretches to 6.175km in length, making it the second longest circuit on the current F1 calendar behind the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and the longest street circuit in the sport. Additionally, three consecutive sections of the circuit have been marked out as potential DRS Zones, ensuring plenty of overtaking opportunities for the drivers throughout the race. The fact the race will take place at night under the lights will only add to the amazing atmosphere F1 fans can expect to experience in December. — SG
