NEW DELHI: The idea of a Saudi Arabian F1 team may soon become a reality, with officials from the Kingdom indicating that buying an existing Formula 1 team is not only on the radar but could happen in the near future. The move would mark another bold step in Saudi Arabiaโs growing presence in the world of motorsport.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, revealed that serious interest exists in team ownership.
โIt could happen,โ he said.
โIt could happen soon if you see the growth, first of all. So we see there is a lot of [growth], now Formula 1 is reaching new markets, the sales are globally increasing. We saw the partnership with Aramco and Aston Martin. So, all directions say that maybe soon Saudi can, if they see if itโs feasible, if it makes sense, then why not?โ
Billion-Dollar Entry: Choosing the Right Team is Crucial
Saudi Arabia joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2021, and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has since become a permanent venue. However, unlike Bahrainโwhich owns the McLaren F1 team through its sovereign wealth fund, MumtalakatโSaudi Arabia has yet to acquire a team of its own. That may soon change, as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) evaluates long-term involvement in the sport.
โNobody dislikes making money,โ Prince Khalid said.
โSo if you can make money out of Formula 1โฆ But I think itโs very tricky. You need to know exactly which team to buy and who to partner with and who will manage this.โ
Valuations of even backmarker F1 teams have skyrocketed in recent years, with current estimates putting each teamโs value at a minimum of ยฃ1 billion. Moreover, the incoming 2026 regulation changes, including discussions around a return to naturally-aspirated V10 engines, make the timing and strategy of a purchase more complex.
โFormula 1 became very competitive and thereโs a lot of changes in the regulations,โ he added.
โItโs not easy to say which team to buy and how youโre going to manage it.โ
Still, the ambition remains clear.
โPersonally, I would like to see a Saudi teamโฆ But I would like them to do it the right way and be successful,โ Prince Khalid emphasized.
Two Races in the Kingdom? Jeddah and Riyadh in Play
Prince Khalid also floated the idea of Saudi Arabia hosting two Grand Prix races in the futureโone in Jeddah and another at the upcoming Qiddiya circuit near Riyadh.
โSaudi Arabia as a country, we would like to host two races,โ he said.
โJeddah and Riyadh, they are two different regions and two different markets. And Saudi Arabia, itโs a very big market.โ
He acknowledged the tight scheduling constraints of the global F1 calendar but drew parallels to the United States, which now hosts three races in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas.
โIt can happen, but will it happen? Itโs too early to discuss this now,โ he added.
As Formula 1 continues to expand globally, the Saudi Arabian F1 team project and potential second Grand Prix are symbols of the Kingdomโs determination to lead the motorsport revolution in the Middle Eastโand possibly reshape the global F1 landscape.
