Formula 1: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to go ahead despite Houthis missile attack on nearby oil depot
- Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claim responsibility for attack on Aramco facility 11km from Jeddah circuit
- Meetings between teams, drivers and F1 bosses drag on late into the night, but race set to go ahead as planned
Formula 1 has decided to go ahead with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after getting safety assurances from local authorities in the wake of missile attacks on an Aramco facility near the racetrack in Jeddah, the sport’s chief executive said.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said they launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities and the Saudi-led coalition said state-owned oil giant Aramco’s petroleum products distribution station was hit, causing a fire in two tanks, but no casualties.
But meetings dragged on in the paddock late into the night between F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, team principals and drivers, and the drivers were still talking with each other by 1am local time (6am HKT).
After Yemen’s Houthis rebels acknowledged they launched attacks on the kingdom, Saudi Arabia state television said there was a “hostile operation” that targeted the Jiddah oil depot, which erupted in flames during the first practice about 11km (seven miles) from the F1 circuit.
Despite this, the second practice was delayed by just 15 minutes following a meeting between drivers, team principals, Domenicali, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of motorsport governing body FIA.
Drivers did not talk about the attack immediately after practice, with comments in media releases limited to the day’s racing.
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.