Formula 1 organizers have confirmed that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will take place this weekend despite an attack claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on an oil storage facility near the track on Friday.
A joint statement from Formula 1 and the sport’s governing body, the FIA, said that “after discussions with all teams and drivers”, the race at the Jeddah circuit will go ahead. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the second race of the new season and takes place on the seventh anniversary of the start of the civil war in Yemen.
“Following the widely publicized incident that took place in Jeddah on Friday, there was extensive discussion between all interested parties, Saudi government officials and security agencies who gave full and detailed assurances that the event is safe,” the statement reads. .
“It was agreed with all stakeholders to maintain a clear and open dialogue throughout the event and for the future.”
Friday’s explosion at the premises of Aramco – F1’s sponsor – took place about 32 kilometers from the track and smoke could be seen over the city during Friday’s practice.
The second practice session was delayed by 15 minutes as teams and drivers were called to meet with organisers. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told reporters the teams were “sure we are protected” and that the track was “probably the safest place you can be in Saudi Arabia” at the moment.
However, sources told CNN that drivers felt uneasy after the attack and many did not want to drive in the race.
Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) president Alex Wurz released a statement on Saturday saying Friday was “a difficult day” for the sport and a “stressful day” for drivers.
He added that “seeing the smoke of the incident” made it “difficult to remain a fully focused racing driver”.
Wurz said there were long discussions and debates after the attack, but “the result was a resolution” that the race would go ahead with the riders participating.
“So we hope that the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be remembered as a good race rather than the incident that took place yesterday,” added Wurz.
Drivers must head to the track for qualifying on Saturday before the race on Sunday.
No casualties in the attack
The Houthis said they used a “large number” of drones to target the facility in Friday’s attack.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen said a ballistic missile and 10 bomb-laden drones dropped from the southern border by Iranian-backed rebels had been intercepted, according to Saudi state TV channel al-Ekhbariya. The statement did not mention an attack on Jeddah.
There have been no casualties so far in the attack, an official told CNN.
Saudi state media later reported that the Saudi-led Arab coalition launched airstrikes against what it said were “sources of threats in Sanaa and Hodeidah” in Yemen following Friday’s attack.
The port city of Hodeidah is used to provide food and humanitarian aid to Yemenis. The fuel normally arrives in the north of the country through the port, which is controlled by the Houthi rebels – but the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi warships, must authorize the ships to dock.
Saudi Arabia justified the blockade of the port by accusing the Houthis of diverting taxes from fuel entering Hodeidah to finance its war effort, an allegation also made by the US and the UN.
Source: CNN Brasil
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