This weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will go ahead as planned, after extensive talks between organisers and drivers went on long through the night. There had been initial fears that the Grand Prix would be cancelled following a missile strike close to the Jeddah track.
It does appear though that the agreement did not come without strong warning to drivers and their teams, after BBC Sport reported that they were ‘handed a warning’ about the consequences of the race not going ahead.
As a result this allegedly included potential issues with leaving the country early, if the race did not go ahead. Drivers and organisers were locked into discussion late into the night, before an agreement was reached at 2:30am local time.
The meeting took place following the attack that took place nine miles from the track at a nearby oil depot. Team bosses and drivers were called in for discussions by F1 president Stefano Domenicali, and managing director Ross Brawn.
Following four hours of talks it was finally confirmed that the race would go ahead, after team bosses came out of the meeting to confirm: “We will be racing.” Despite the green light, BBC Sport reported that ‘drivers had concerns about their safety’ following the attack.
A statement from Formula 1 confirmed that they had been in ‘close contact’ with the ‘relevant authorities’ in order to get the go ahead. The statement said: “Formula 1 has been in close contact with the relevant authorities following the situation that took place today.
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"The authorities have confirmed that the event can continue as planned and we will remain in close contact with them and all the teams and closely monitor the situation." These comments were then also echoed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
He said: “They are targeting the infrastructure, not the civilians, and, of course, not the track. We've checked the facts and we've got assurances from the highest level that this is a secure place. Let's go on racing." Second practice eventually got going and once again it was Ferrari and Charles Leclerc who dominated. Last week’s winner set the fastest time round the Jeddah track, 0.14 faster than world champion Max Verstappen.
Third fastest was Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, with Verstappen’s fellow Red Bull driver Sergio Perez came in behind in fourth. It was more frustrating for Mercedes though, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell coming in as fifth and sixth fastest.
