Fresh doubts have emerged over the safety of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after an explosion at a petrol facility close to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Yemeni rebels have claimed responsibility for causing explosion, which is reported to have been triggered by a missile attack.
The blast could be heard during the first Formula 1 practice session of the weekend on Friday, before a fire broke out at the Aramco site in Jeddah. Thick black smoke has been billowing out of the facility since, and is clear to see from many vantage points all across the city.
It could even be seen on TV, with the smoke captured by the cameras as they showed live footage of the final minutes of the practice session. F1 reporter Chris Medland wrote on social media that the sport's bosses are "awaiting further information from the authorities regarding what has happened at the Aramco facility".
The smell of the explosion reached the race track, confusing Max Verstappen into thinking his car might have been on fire. "I can smell burning... is it my car?" he asked his Red Bull engineers over team radio before they confirmed that his car was not the source of the smell.
Houthi rebels from Yemen had already claimed responsibility for a series of previous attacks on Saudi Arabia. This latest incident will most likely pile the pressure on F1 bosses to take action, with a race in Saudi Arabia already controversial due to the country's human rights record and anti-gay laws, among other issues. It is possible that the second race of the season may even be cancelled if the safety of everyone involved cannot be guaranteed.
A statement from Formula 1 said: "We are awaiting further information from the authorities on what has happened." Meanwhile, flights heading into the city are being told either to remain in the air outside of its airspace, or have been re-routed to other airports.
The second practice session of the day was delayed, though it is still expected to go ahead. All teams and drivers in the paddock have been called into a meeting ahead of the session, at which they are expected to receive an update from officials as to what they know so far.
During the session, F1 released another statement in which it said it has been "in close contact with the relevant authorities following the situation that took place today. The authorities have confirmed the event can continue as planned and we will remain in close contact with them and all the teams and closely monitor the situation."
A statement from the Saudi Motorsport Company added: "We are aware of the attack on the Aramco distribution station in Jeddah this afternoon and remain in direct contact with the Saudi security authorities, as well as F1 and the FIA to ensure all necessary security and safety measures continue to be implemented to guarantee the safety of all visitors to the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as well as all drivers, teams and stakeholders.
"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."
