Saudi Arabia may be gearing up to expand its growing Formula 1 footprint by launching or acquiring its own team.
Beyond hosting this weekend's high-speed Jeddah street race, the Kingdom's state-owned Aramco and Ma'aden sponsor Aston Martin, while the Public Investment Fund (PIF) holds a stake in McLaren since 2021.
Now, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, a royal family member, has revealed ambitions for team ownership.
"It could happen," he told journalists, including Ouest France newspaper.
"It could happen soon as we see the rapid growth of this sport," he added.
"If you buy a Formula 1 team, people will buy it to make money, especially if it is bought by one of the PIF companies," the Prince continued.
"We are very interested," he affirmed.
As chairman of the Saudi automobile federation, Prince Khalid believes the grid has space for a Saudi team. "There is definitely room on the grid," he said, noting that 2026 will feature eleven teams, with a cap of twelve.
"Potentially one or two teams could be put up for sale in the future," he speculated.
"We already organise a grand prix and sponsor teams, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see an announcement of a Saudi team soon," he added.
"It's not easy to say which team to buy and how to manage it, but personally I would like to see a Saudi team," he admitted.
"It is not an easy issue, but why shouldn't it be possible?" he questioned.
Prince Khalid also expressed a desire for Jeddah to become F1's season-opener. "We want to be the first on the calendar," he said.
"That has everything to do with the weather—it's just too hot here in the middle of the season," he explained. "And it's better for sales to start the season," he concluded.
