Saudi Arabia to host maiden F1 Grand Prix, but human rights abuses overshadow country’s global sporting ambitions

In its latest venture, the country will stage the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Red Sea port city of Jeddah in December — set to be the fastest street track in F1 history, according to the event’s website. “We managed to design a street circuit which is fast and challenging,” Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal, president of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies. Taking place under floodlights, drivers will encounter a circuit over six kilometers in length, which runs through the city’s scenic waterfront, featuring 27 corners and an average speed of about 252 km/h. At 50 laps, the race distance will measure about 309 km (192 miles), the website says.Last December — when asked to respond to criticism from British lawmakers that Bahrain was using the Grand Prix to “sportswash” its human rights record — F1 boss Chase Carey told CNN that the sport has been “very clear about our commitment to human rights […] about our cooperation and collaboration with our partners to improve and advance the human rights issues.”While Al Faisal recognizes critics’ widespread condemnation, he says he’s not concerned that politics could overshadow the country’s inaugural F1 event. “Formula One […] is wise enough to know what’s good for them and their reputation, and if they felt that Saudi Arabia is one of those countries, they would have never agreed to come,” he said. “We want the people to come to Saudi Arabia and then see [with] their own eyes and then they can have their opinion. I respect someone’s opinion, but I need to know what is based on and what is the motivation,” he added. “Saudi Arabia changed a lot to the positive. And hopefully, we will also continue development and opening up and changing our country to what is best for our people who live in Saudi Arabia,” he said. Despite Al Faisal’s prediction that political discourse won’t dominate coverage of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, athletes have shown increased political engagement over the past year, using their platforms to shed light on social issues within their sport.Come December 5, when the race will be staged, it remains to be seen whether the conversation will be just about fast cars.