Jeddah E-Prix: XXL preview of the first double-header in 2026 on the edge of the Saudi Arabian desert

This weekend, the Formula E World Championship will return to the coastal oasis on the edge of the Saudi Arabian desert in Jeddah for the second time. This season, the all-electric racing series will once again go straight into two races on the fast street circuit. We will also see the first Pit Boost pit stops of the twelfth season at the Jeddah E-Prix.

Where exactly does the Formula E race take place?

Jeddah is located directly on the Red Sea and is considered one of the most open and dynamic cities in Saudi Arabia. As the historic gateway to Mecca, the metropolis of millions combines centuries of trading history with rapid change: modern city districts, the long Corniche and international events characterise the image today. With Formula E, which is held on a city circuit in Jeddah, the city is emphasising its ambition to establish itself as a global sports and event destination. Electric motorsport symbolises the technological and social awakening that Jeddah embodies.

Fast Stats: Jeddah E-Prix

• Formula E has been racing in Saudi Arabia since season 5 and is holding its 14th and 15th races in the country this year - only in Germany and the USA has it held more races to date.
• Oliver Rowland is the most successful driver in Jeddah: In the first race, he led until the final chicane, but was pushed into second place by Maximilian Günther; he won the second race in commanding style on the way to his 2024/25 World Championship title. The second most successful driver is Taylor Barnard, who finished directly behind Rowland in both races.
• Maximilian Günther achieved something rare last year: the DS Penske driver secured pole position, won the race and also set the fastest race lap in the top 10, securing the perfect points haul of 29 points - the last time Jake Dennis had achieved this in Rome in 2023.
• Last year, Jeddah was a good place for drivers with Nissan powertrains: On Saturday, the Japanese manufacturer claimed the optimum score of 43 points in the manufacturers' standings thanks to Oliver Rowland's victory and Taylor Barnard's second place. This has only been achieved once before in the entire 2024/25 season, with the DS-Penske one-two victory in Shanghai.
• Jeddah has not been a good place for Porsche so far: After Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a total of three collisions on the first lap in the two races in 2025, the reigning team world champion has only been able to score six points in Jeddah so far. Only Cupra Kiro (2) and both Envision and Lola Yamaha ABT (0) finished the weekend worse.
• Last year's race on Saturday was one of the most energy-intensive races of the season: in the opening phase, the drivers drove a full nine seconds slower per lap than in the closing phase of the race on Friday in order to save energy. This year, the drivers also have much less energy available for the second race.

TV & Livestream: Where is the Jeddah E-Prix on?

The Jeddah E-Prix is a double-header, meaning that two races will be held in Saudi Arabia. The races will take place on Friday 13 February and Saturday 14 February 2026.

The race weekend starts on Thursday, 12 February at 6:00 pm (CET) with the first free practice session. It continues on Friday at 11.30 am with the 2nd free practice session before qualifying at 1.40 pm. The race starts at 6:05 pm.

Saturday starts at 11.30 am with the 3rd free practice session, followed by qualifying for the second race at 1.40 pm. The second race in Jeddah starts on Saturday at 6:05 pm.

The broadcasters for the race and qualifying will depend on your region. But as usual, e-Formula.news offers English-language live streams for the free practice sessions. On top of that, you can follow all sessions of the Miami E-Prix in our popular Formula E live ticker.

All data in Central European Time (CET)

What makes the track in Jeddah so special?

Formula E in Jeddah races on an unusual circuit: a specially adapted version of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which is otherwise reserved for Formula 1. Instead of narrow, winding roads, the track has a very fast and flowing layout with long straights along the Red Sea.

The circuit has been technically upgraded for the electric series. Additional chicanes create overtaking opportunities and place a stronger focus on energy management. The night race under floodlights not only provides better conditions, but also a striking backdrop. With the Pit Boost in the race on Friday, strategy and energy management will also be the focus of the first double-header of the 2025/26 Formula E season.

In which order do the drivers start qualifying?

In Formula E, qualifying takes place in two stages: Group phase and Duel phase. For group qualifying, the driver field is initially divided into two halves, with all drivers in the odd-numbered championship positions (positions 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) competing in Group A and the drivers in the even-numbered positions in Group B.

The four drivers with the fastest lap times in their group after ten minutes will then progress to the quarter-finals, where they will duel for the best grid positions. This results in the following groups for the race in Mexico City

Weather forecast: summery and sunny in Jeddah

The forecast for Jeddah is promising. Eleven hours of sunshine a day and temperatures of up to 32 degrees promise a summer heat race in Saudi Arabia. How the temperatures will affect the tyres and drivers is the exciting part. Which of the drivers will be able to keep a cool head in the heat and manoeuvre their vehicle best over the burning asphalt of the megacity?

Who are the favourites?

Mitch Evans and Jaguar are back and showed what they are made of in Miami. The other favourites in Miami were left behind and only finished at the back of the field due to strategy and rain.

World champion Oliver Rowland will also be a favourite in Jeddah. He finished on the podium in both races last season and even won the second race. If you ignore the race with the botched strategy in Miami, Rowland's start to the season was more than solid, which makes him a podium candidate in Saudi Arabia.

Both DS Penske drivers also have good chances. Both Maximilian Günther and Taylor Barnard finished on the podium in Jeddah in season 11, and the circuit seems to suit them if they can repeat last year's form.

Nick Cassidy continues to be one of the strongest drivers in season 12, and Citroen seems to have done a lot of things right after his arrival. The New Zealander also goes into the fourth race weekend of the season as the championship leader.

The Porsche drivers should not lose sight of the battle for the podium either. Both Nico Müller and Pascal Wehrlein have made a very strong start to the season. The former secured his second podium of his Formula E career in Miami.

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