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Perez: Saudi Arabia F1 circuit is unnecessarily dangerous

Sergio Perez thinks the new Formula 1 track in Saudi Arabia is unnecessarily dangerous, as he hopes the sport gets away without a big crash in the race.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Charles Coates / Motorsport Images

The new Jeddah circuit proudly boasts itself to be the fastest street circuit on the calendar, with Lewis Hamilton’s pole position lap coming in at 253.984km/h.

But its flat-out swooping characteristics, with barriers close to the circuit and a number of blind apexes, has opened the door for potential trouble when cars are running close to each other.

Perez thinks that the lack of space, and early sight of what could be happening ahead, has made things less safe than they could be, and without any particular gain from it.

"It's a really nice circuit, very dangerous though in terms of... there is a lot of straights but you are turning and [there are] blind corners, where I hope nothing happens,” he said. ”If you like, it’s too dangerous without a real reason.”

Perez said that the risk aspect of the track had been increased further by traffic problems in qualifying, as closing speeds between cars were extremely high.

“When you look at some of the onboards, it's quite scary,” he said. “I just hope that it goes through that we don't see a big shunt out there.

“I just feel the track, yeah, it's a bit too risky without a reason. With the speed that we're doing, with the deltas around the track from some other cars, it's a bit unnecessary. But I think probably something that we can review after the weekend."

Sparks kick up from Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Sparks kick up from Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Perez reckoned drivers would have to voice their concerns about the Saudi track design before its return next year, as he felt it was obvious that improvements could be made.

For he thinks having flat out kinks rather than just open straights serves no purpose.

"I think we cannot forget the fact that the safety has to take priority,” he said. “I think I've spoken to some of the other drivers and we all kind of think that... we are the ones sitting in the car, and the speed differences that we tend to see, if something goes wrong it's a massive one.

“It's a straight, you're going on a straight flat out, it's just I don't see the reason to do it that way. It's obviously a bit of track character but it's something we have to speak about after the race."

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Edition

Australia