R07 – Jeddah – FIA Formula 2 Race Preview
PREMA Racing will race for the first time in Saudi Arabia this weekend for the penultimate round of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship, as the series lines up at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The 6.1-kilometer track, home to the Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix, is set to become the world’s fastest street venue and the second-fastest overall in the F2 calendar after Monza. In addition, the cars will run in different conditions as only Practice and Race 1 will be held during daytime. Qualifying and Race 2 will start with artificial lights at night while the Feature Race will be at sunset.
With many unknown aspects on the table, preparations have been particularly thorough, and getting to grips with the new environment will be pivotal since practice. PREMA Racing is arriving in Jeddah with a hefty lead in the team championship and two drivers actively in the hunt for the title.
Oscar Piastri is coming from two consecutive feature race wins, but returning on a new track after more than two months of break will be no easy task for the Australian rookie, who has a 36-point margin atop the drivers standings. On the other hand, Robert Shwartzman put together a powerful drive in the second part of the season after a tough 2021 start. The Russian stormed his way back in the standings and is looking forward to making another step forward with the same form this weekend.
The outcome of the Saudi event will be key to securing valuable points and results and set the tone ahead of the championship finale at Abu Dhabi.
The weekend will be extremely challenging and interesting. Heading into a new venue and even a new country, we are definitely looking forward to the event. In these situations, preparation is crucial, and while we are confident in our work, there are still some unknowns. We will work as hard as possible to narrow them down, relying on Oscar and Robert. We know they can make the difference on track, so that’s a great starting point.
Rene Rosin – Team Principal
“The weekend will be extremely challenging and interesting. Heading into a new venue and even a new country, we are definitely looking forward to the event. In these situations, preparation is crucial, and while we are confident in our work, there are still some unknowns. We will work as hard as possible to narrow them down, relying on Oscar and Robert. We know they can make the difference on track, so that’s a great starting point.”
Weekend Timetable*
Friday, December 3rd, 2021
13:45 – Free Practice
18:20 – Qualifying
Saturday, December 4th, 2021
15:30 – Sprint Race 1
21:40 – Sprint Race 2
Sunday, Decemeber 5th, 2021
17:25 – Feature Race
*All times local
Source | Photo: PREMA Racing