The Places Behind the Races: Saudi Arabia Edition
Delve into the latest pop culture in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix
Welcome or welcome back to ‘Places Behind the Races’ :) Throughout the 2025 season, Formula 1 will be visiting 24 different locations across 21 different countries. The global expanse of the sport is one of its best features, but I find that we don’t often talk about the places behind the races. With that in mind, I thought I would delve into everything fun and trending in the many locations that Formula 1 visits. From events and national holidays to movies and food trends, I have you covered. So, let’s get to it!
Netflix Top 10 Shows This Week:
1. Adolescence –
When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking: what really happened?
2. The Residence –
When a White House state dinner becomes a crime scene, detective Cordelia Cupp must investigate dozens of staff members and guests to catch a killer.
3. Weak Hero –
With the aid of unexpected friends, a gifted but introverted student confronts bullies and violent foes — unaware of how dangerous his world will become.
4. Devil May Cry –
When a mysterious villain threatens to open the gates of Hell, a devilishly handsome demon hunter could be the world's best hope for salvation.
5. When Life Gives You Tangerines –
In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs — proving love endures across time.
6. Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer –
This tense true-crime series examines the hunt for the Long Island serial killer through the perspective of his victims, their loved ones and the police.
7. The Lady’s Companion –
Hired to find husbands for three wealthy sisters, chaperone Elena Bianda is drawn into a late 19th-century world of love, scandal and comic intrigue.
8. Karma –
A fateful accident intertwines six lives in a thrilling tale of karma and crime, where each must face their own dark truths and connections.
9. Million Dollar Secret
In this cutthroat competition series, an undercover millionaire must hide in plain sight and evade elimination to keep the money and win the game.
10. Raw: 2025 –
Rhea Ripley gets her rematch against IYO SKY for the Women's World Title in London, England. Cody Rhodes and John Cena come face-to-face.
Top 10 Movies (Netflix) This Week
1. Shabab Albomb -
When Amer, a courageous young man, discovers a lizard with powers, he must outwit a greedy businessman eager to exploit the mystical creature for profit.
2. The Life List -
When her mother sends her on a quest to complete a teenage bucket list, a young woman uncovers family secrets, finds romance — and rediscovers herself.
3. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves -
Fresh out of prison, a charming bard and his barbarian partner in crime gather an offbeat band of adventurers on a quest to retrieve a magical relic.
4. Deva -
Working on a complicated case, a fierce young police officer goes rogue to dismantle a lethal web of corruption and deceit — one epic battle at a time.
5. Bullet Train -
Five assassins board a Japanese bullet train bound for Kyoto and come to discover that their seemingly separate missions are mysteriously linked.
6. 21 Bridges -
Armed with a bold plan to lock down Manhattan, a detective on a mission races against time to catch two cop killers — and makes a shocking discovery.
7. Counterattack -
When a hostage rescue mission creates a new enemy, Capt. Guerrero and his elite soldiers must face an ambush by a criminal group.
8. Genie -
After his fed-up wife and daughter ditch him for the holidays, a workaholic dad accidentally awakens a genie and gets the chance to win his family back.
9. Chaos Walking -
On a planet of men who can hear each other's thoughts, a colonist stumbles upon a dangerous mystery: a woman whose thoughts are her own.
10. The Electric State -
An orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.
Top 10 Songs This Week (Spotify)
1. Wildflower – Billie Eilish
2. Birds of a Feather – Billie Eilish
3. Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars
4. like JENNIE – JENNIE
5. No One Noticed – The Marias
6. Tala’et Abeh – Ayed
7. PASSO BEM SOLTO – Slowed – ATLXS
8. Timeless – The Weeknd ft Playboi Carti
9. MONTAGEM TOMADA – MXZI
10. شلون-بية – Aws Al Saber
Events & Holidays
~ F1 Concert
Saturday: Jennifer Lopez and Party Next Door
Sunday: Usher and Major Lazor
Food trends
1. Kabsa - The national dish of Saudi Arabia, Kabsa, features aromatic rice cooked with tender meat (usually lamb or chicken), spices, and nuts. The rice absorbs the rich meat flavours, creating a harmonious blend.
2. Mandi - Mandi is a traditional Saudi dish renowned for its slow-cooked meat and rice, prepared in a unique underground oven that imparts a distinctive smoky flavor. The cooking process involves placing seasoned lamb or chicken in a sealed pit with rice, allowing the meat’s juices to infuse the grains.
3. Mutabbaq - Mutabbaq is a beloved Saudi Arabian street food that consists of a stuffed flatbread filled with a savoury mixture of minced meat, eggs, and vegetables.
4. Shwarma - Shawarma is a popular street food in Saudi Arabia, featuring thinly sliced marinated meat, typically beef, chicken, or lamb, stacked and roasted on a vertical spit. Served in warm bread with fresh vegetables and a drizzle of garlic sauce, this flavorful dish is beloved for its tender texture and aromatic spices
5. Jareesh - Jareesh is a hearty and traditional Saudi dish made from crushed wheat and meat, slow-cooked to achieve a tender consistency. Often topped with ghee, this comforting meal is celebrated for its rich flavours and cultural significance.
I love seeing how certain aspects of pop culture translate globally (aka the hold that Billie Eilish has on us all) and how other elements are so unique to the culture of a country (aka the popular food). Also, can we talk about how Adolescence has featured in all of the editions of this series so far? It’s amazing that it is still having such an impact! Also, as a lover of all dishes that are aromatic and rice-based, so much of the food in this country and region of the world sounds amazing!
I also feel like F1 needs to promote its concerts more because the line-up for this weekend is incredible, and I only found out the artists were going to be at the Grand Prix when I was researching for this post!? Why are they not making the most of having artists like Jennifer Lopez and Usher at their events?
In terms of the racing itself, how great does the WDC look right now? The McLaren boys are taking points off each other, which is keeping Verstappen and Russell in touching distance with only 14 points separating them all! It has not felt like we’ve had a field this close in many years.
There are also rumours of a ‘get out clause’ in Max Verstappen’s contract that could play out very interestingly if it came to fruition. The current rumour suggests that if the lack of performance in the Red Bull car ends up making Max P3 or lower in the WDC, then he could leave the team for free. That is a wild thing to think about when you consider how much money that man is worth! However, if Max did actually leave Red Bull for free, then I can’t decide if he would get the same treatment as Trent (Liverpool fans have turned against Trent for trying to leave his hometown club on a free) or if he would be praised for it. I often find that most Red Bull fans are actually fans of Max, not the team, so he may be able to get away with it fairly easily. On the other hand, there is so much shared history with Max and the team that I think it could be a tough ask, and I’m not sure Max would want to leave that way unless something serious happened that would push him to do it.
I think the most underrated performance from the last race came from Ollie Bearman. He has been slowly chipping away at gaining performance for a few weeks now, and it seemed like missing out on FP1 had put him on the back foot when it came to qualifying. However, taking the Haas from last to points as a rookie is no mean feat, and I feel like we’re not talking about it enough! It was so lovely that he was able to do it in front of his family, too.
All in all, it’s safe to say that Bahrain delivered a fun race, especially compared to Japan! I’m hoping Jeddah can give us the same or even better this weekend.
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time :)
Love this series! I’m going to the race in Baku later this year, and as much as I can’t wait for everything F1 related, I’m also really looking forward to the chance to explore & learn more about Azerbaijan!
Loved this article, it’s so clever to do this! In a few years it will be like the perfect time travel box to situate us back again in this race’s time!