New images show rapid progress at Qiddiya Speed Park, with work advancing on The Blade, an elevated first corner that will sit roughly 70 meters above the ground, about 20 stories. The build signals that the Saudi project is moving toward a planned Formula 1 debut from 2028 as the future home of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Blade is the signature feature of the layout by Alexander Wurz working with Hermann Tilke. It sits on a raised platform and has a steep, ramp-like profile. The corner is designed as a visual centerpiece and as a grand spectator vantage point. Early site photos highlight the structure’s growing frame and the scale of the embankment that will carry cars into Turn 1.
Construction began in 2024. Promoters and new imagery point to a fast build, with reports citing around 39 percent complete. Estimates put the construction budget near 480 million dollars, which has also been reported as 360 million pounds. The target is a calendar slot in 2028. Some accounts place the completion window into 2029, depending on delivery milestones.
Qiddiya is central to Saudi Arabia’s long-term F1 plan. The venue is intended to take over from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which has a contract through 2027. The Jeddah event has faced disruption from regional conflict. The wider program to host F1 in the country remains in place, and the push is on to move from a temporary-style street layout to a permanent facility at Qiddiya.
The circuit concept by Tilke and Wurz is said to feature 21 corners and aims to be the longest lap on the F1 calendar. The build includes integrated elements such as a Hotel Section and links to surrounding Qiddiya developments. Before it can stage a Grand Prix, the venue must secure FIA homologation for Formula 1. The project also targets FIM approval to host MotoGP.
Any race date will depend on completion of the facility and the approval process. Work on The Blade offers a clear visual marker of where the project stands. With the Jeddah contract set to run through 2027, Qiddiya’s timeline aligns with the goal of taking over the Saudi round soon after. The latest construction photos and promoter updates show a circuit moving from concept to reality at pace, with its headline first corner now rising above the site.