The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has confirmed upgrades to the Formula 1 Grand Prix race circuits in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.

The Formula 1 commission held its first meeting for 2023 on 21 February ahead of teams and drivers travelling to Bahrain for official pre-season testing and the opening Grand Prix.

The commission reviewed the changes to the race circuits and made a series of decisions on matters such as using race radios and wet weather tyres.

For Saudi Arabia, significant changes have been made to improve visibility on corner entry wherever possible at the Jeddah street circuit. In Qatar, a new pit building and paddock infrastructure will be built at the Lusail racetrack.

There will also be changes made for 2023 on some circuits to either make it harder or easier to overtake. These changes will affect a number of circuits, including Bahrain and Jeddah.

MEED reported in December last year that the local Generic Engineering Technologies & Contracting had been appointed as the main contractor by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) to refurbish the Lusail Formula 1 race circuit in the north of Doha.

The QR675m ($185m) contract covers the construction of access roads and pedestrian walkways, infrastructure and installation of signals and safety systems. The works should be completed by 31 December 2025.

Saudi Arabia-headquartered United Maintenance & Contracting Company (Unimac) completed the Jeddah circuit last year. It spans 6.175 kilometres with 27 corners.

The circuit in Bahrain was built by a consortium of the local Cebarco and Malaysia’s WCT in the early 2000s. The same contracting team built the Abu Dhabi racetrack on Yas Island a few years later.