JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Washington Insider Magazine) – Despite airstrikes on the country by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Formula One announced its event in Saudi Arabia will go on as planned on Sunday.
The news came the day after rebels stormed an oil depot around 11 kilometers (seven miles) away from the racecourse. F1 has received “detailed assurances that the event is secure,” according to the organization. The incident occurred during the first practice, and the 20 drivers gathered late Friday night to address safety issues, which lasted until 2 a.m.
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s team principal, said it was necessary to listen to the drivers, but that the decision to proceed was correct.
F1 and its governing body, the FIA, had previously stated that the grand prix “will continue as scheduled” after consultations with all drivers and teams.
Later Saturday, a 3rd and final practice session was planned to begin at 5 p.m. local time, with qualifying to begin at 8 p.m. under floodlights.
After qualifying, the top 3 drivers spoke to the media, and team principals were ready to begin their media obligations in the early afternoon.
On Friday evening, the Houthis confirmed the attacks, describing them as a “hostile operation” on Saudi state media. When the oil depot in Jeddah was targeted during Friday’s first practice session, it went up in flames. It sparked a massive fire, causing the drivers to undertake emergency meetings over F1’s participation in Saudi Arabia.
When F1 held its maiden race at the circuit in December, many drivers highlighted their worries about regional racing and Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. After returning to the track a little more than 3 months later, tensions are at an all-time high due to the attacks.
Late into Friday night, team principals, drivers, and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali discussed security and safety circumstances.
Because of a previous driver meeting that featured Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the newly-elected FIA president, Friday’s second practice was delayed 15 minutes.
The weekend plan had not been altered, according to race promoter Saudi Motorsport Company, and a third practice and qualifying session were still scheduled for Saturday. The drivers had just left the circuit a few hours before their scheduled return.
The attack was launched against the North Jeddah Bulk Plant, the very same fuel depot that the Houthis had struck 5 days ago. The plant is located near southeast of the city’s international airport, which serves as a vital transit point for Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca.
For usage in the empire’s second-largest city, the plant stocks gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. It provides roughly a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s supply, as well as fuel for a regional desalination facility.
The Houthis have fired cruise missiles at the North Jeddah facility on two occasions. In November of 2020, there was an attack. The Houthis launched the second strike on Sunday as part of a larger offensive. Officials reported Saturday that a Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a barrage of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital and a crucial Red Sea city. According to ABC NEWS, the attacks on Sanaa and Hodeida, both occupied by the Houthis, came after rebels attacked the oil depot in Jeddah.