The governing bodies of Formula 1 reconfirmed on Saturday March 26 the maintenance of the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, despite the concerns of the pilots, the day after the attack on an oil site near the Jeddah circuit by the Yemeni rebels Houthis.
” After discussions with all teams and drivers (which lasted late into the night from Friday to Saturday, editor’s note), the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix will continue as planned. “Said the Formula 1 promoter and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in a press release. ” Extensive discussions were held between the stakeholders, the Saudi government authorities and the agencies responsible for security which gave full and detailed assurances on the security of the event. “, add the authorities.
The pilots, who remained silent after this meeting, subsequently expressed their ” resolution to participate in practice and qualifying today (Saturday) and the race tomorrow », by the voice of their association (the GPDA).
The attack in Jeddah is part of a wave claimed by the Houthis Friday, March 25, on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the intervention of the military coalition led by Riyadh in Yemen, to support the government against rebels close to Iran.
It caused a gigantic fire and a cloud of black smoke visible from the circuit during free practice 1.
“Natural human concerns”
” It might be hard to understand if you’ve never driven an F1 on the fast and difficult Jeddah circuit, but seeing the smoke caused by the incident made it difficult to remain a fully focused racing driver and erase natural human concerns explained the pilots through the GPDA.
Several team bosses also spoke at the start of the afternoon, during their usual Saturday press conference. None betrayed the secret of the previous day’s exchanges, but ” the most important thing was to be reassured to be safe again said McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl.
Everything has been done to protect the area, the circuit and the city.
Stefano Domenicali, FIA boss
” The drivers are not 100% happy and fully relaxed but they have heard the reassurances and understood that the important thing is to stay here to race “, added his counterpart at Ferrari Mattia Binotto.
Comments that echo the responses of all the players in the championship when they are asked about the advisability of racing in countries accused of human rights violations, starting with Saudi Arabia, where F1 was established the last season.
Saudi reprisals
As to whether this GP has its place, “ it is not us (the teams) who are in charge of the calendar ” but F1 and the FIA, reminds Jost Capito for Williams, even if the teams are obviously consulted. ” If discussions need to take place, they will take place after the Grand Prix but not during, as long as we are safe he says.
Just after free practice 2 on Friday evening, the championship organizers had announced the continuation of the GP despite the attack but the pilots needed more than four hours to discuss it, separating around 02:20 (00:20) without an official announcement concerning their position.
In retaliation for Friday’s eventsthe coalition carried out airstrikes in the night in Sanaa and Hodeidah, Yemeni cities held by the rebels, according to the official Saudi agency SPA.
According to a senior Saudi official contacted by AFP on Saturday, the Houthi rebels have offered a ceasefire and peace talks to end the war that has paralyzed the country for seven years.
(With AFP)