Formula 1 drivers consider shock move after Saudi Arabian GP attack
Formula 1 has announced this weekend's Saudi Arabian GP will go ahead, despite an oil depot belonging to a major sponsor located near the circuit being attacked overnight.
Smoke could be seen rising from the area nearby the Jeddah street circuit where F1 is hosting rounf two of the 2022 championship.
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Saudi Arabian state television labelled the incident a 'hostile operation' for which credit was later taken by Yemen's Houthis rebels, who have claimed to have carried out '66 various operations' in their ongoing conflict with the Saudi coalition.
The facility belongs to Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, a major sponsor of Formula 1.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported in the wake of the attack.
Race promoter Saudi Motorsport Company said nothing would change with regards to the third practice and qualifying scheduled on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
"We are aware of the attack on the Aramco distribution station in Jeddah earlier this afternoon and remain in direct contact with the Saudi authorities," the SMC said in a statement.
"The race weekend schedule will continue as planned. The safety and security of all our guests continues to be our main priority and we look forward to welcoming fans for a weekend of premium racing and entertainment."
While Saudi Arabia and its state-run oil behemoth Saudi Aramco did not immediately acknowledge the blaze, it appeared to be centred on the same fuel depot the Houthis attacked in recent days.
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The decision to proceed with the race weekend was taken after principals from all 10 F1 teams unanimously agreed to do so.
However, a short time after the team principals' meeting, the drivers broke off for their own meeting - with deliberations going on for several hours with none of them emerging.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said they had been given assurances from Saudi authorities that the track would be at risk of attack.
“We’ve received all assurances that the country’s safety comes first, no matter the situation,” said Domenicali.
“Safety has to be guaranteed, they are here with their families, so they have in place all the systems to protect this area.
“We have to trust the local authorities in that respect and, therefore, of course, we go ahead with the event.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said any suggestions the race should be called off would effectively amount to giving in to terrorism.
“The sport has to stand together collectively. Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned, and sport shouldn’t be bullied into a position that…a situation like that just isn’t acceptable,” he said.
“Stefano and the president, they’re dealing with it, there’s been all the assurances from the organisers, and we’ll be going racing.”
Meanwhile, Aussie star Daniel Ricciardo, looking for a much improved performance after McLaren's dismal start in Bahrain, was 11th fastest in the opening session and 15th in the evening.
His teammate Lando Norris was 13th and seventh.
With AAP
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