F1 and FIA reconfirm stay in Saudi Arabian GP
The Formula 1 promoter and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Saturday reconfirmed maintenance for the Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix, the day after the attack on an oil site near the Jeddah circuit by Yemeni rebels Houthis. “After consultation with all teams and drivers, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will go ahead as planned,” the authorities said in a statement.
(AFP)
No pilot boycott… not yet
The meeting between the drivers, a time when the race directors and then the team bosses joined together, lasted more than four hours. According to the journalists on site, it was decided to run the race on Sunday. In any case, it is the decision of the evening. Free practice 3 is scheduled for next Saturday, prior to qualifying, which should start at 5:40 PM.
Bosses come out
The pilot meeting continues. It’s 2 a.m. in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting between pilots drags on
After a two-hour meeting between drivers, who discuss the maintenance of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, they were joined by the bosses of stables. It is now 1:30 am in Jeddah.
Toto Wolff: ‘We were assured we were protected’
Mercedes boss on Sky Sports: “It was a good meeting. The drivers are going to have a chat during their meeting. We were assured that we were protected here, it is probably the safest place to be in Saudi Arabia at the moment. That’s why we’re going to race.”
The Grand Prix maintained
After a meeting with the organizers and the drivers, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is finally upheld. The F1 boss confirmed the news to several journalists on the spot and claimed to have been given safety guarantees.
Anger rises over possible maintenance
World champion in 1996, former British driver Damon Hill expressed his anger: “How absurd is it? Nothing alarming. We are racing. It will be interesting to see the handling. F1 is literally playing with it. Fire.”
The Grand Prix “can continue as planned”, according to the organizers
Ahead of the scheduled meeting with the drivers at around 8 p.m., organizers said the Saudi Arabian GP “can go ahead as planned despite the attacks,” AFP revealed.
Leclerc leads free practice 2
After his win in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc finished first in free practice 2, ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Carlos Sainz’s other Ferrari
Meeting around 8pm.
According to Canal+, the new crisis meeting with the pilots is planned around 8 p.m.
Free practice 2 is in full swing
With a delay but the pilots, after an initial brief meeting, decided to line up well for free practice 2. But other talks are planned at the back. According to AFP, the drivers and team bosses were met by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali before this free practice 2 to discuss the situation.
Meeting between the pilots planned for tonight
According to Channel+, a meeting between the drivers will take place this Friday evening to decide on the continuation and in particular on the maintenance or not of the race. Free Practice 2 has been delayed by a few minutes but is still going on. On the other hand, the race management and the organizers will meet shortly afterwards.
Explosion near Jeddah circuit
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will take place next Sunday in Jeddah. But keeping it is made uncertain by the explosion that happened about 20 kilometers from the site this Friday. Yemeni Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility.
>>> information about the explosion that took place near the F1 circuit
