Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc agree that the many changes made to Jeddah's Corniche Circuit are not impactful enough to improve safety and racing at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The promoters of the event made five changes to the circuit ahead of the 2022 season, including widening the track in some areas, after seeking feedback from the drivers themselves following the 2021 event. The barriers between Turns 2 and 3, and Turns 14 and 21, have been moved between one-and-a-half metres and two metres away from the edge of the track, allowing for what promoters say will be better sightlines through the corners. Elsewhere, the final corner has been widened, offering an extra one-and-a-half metres of track for drivers who run wide. And some of the barriers have been shielded in steel, to allow drivers to brush against them as they pass, just like in Monaco.
Leclerc: Jeddah track changes are not enough
Speaking to members of the media in Saudi Arabia, including RacingNews365.com , Leclerc welcomed the changes, but believes that some areas of the circuit that needed improvements have been ignored. "It's going in the right direction, but I don't think it's enough, especially in the last part of the track," said the championship leader. "The first part, from Turn 4 to Turn 12, didn't change much, which was probably the most critical part." He added: "I don't think it is a massive change."
Sainz: Our visibility doesn't improve
Leclerc's teammate, meanwhile, believes that the changes offer very little improvements to the safety of the circuit, suggesting that the feedback provided by drivers following last season's event has not been followed. "For me, it just shows that we need to keep making this relationship with the FIA tighter, better," Sainz said, speaking during the same media event. "I was commenting with Charles that they moved the wall, but the driving line will still be close to the wall, which means our visibility doesn't improve. "We expected a step in the right direction and, in my opinion, this is not much better. It's marginally, very small, [a] tiny bit, a smallest-ever bit better."
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