The drivers and team principals gathered together before the start of the second free practice session of the day, to get a better understanding of the ongoing situation, as explosions and smoke were visible from the street circuit.

After the end of Friday’s running, another meeting took place, with representatives from all teams, Formula One and the FIA, as well as the 20 drivers. It was unanimous between the team principals that the race should go ahead as planned, as they were “assured” by the race organisers and the Saudi government of their safety whilst at the venue.

“We have received total assurances that, for the country, safety is first, no matter the situation – safety has to be guaranteed,” said Stefano Domenicalli the CEO and president of Formula 1.

Domenicalli explained that, in his view, the presence of important Saudi government officials and their families at the track ensure the safety of the F1 event will be the highest possible:

“They (local officials) are here with their families, actually here at the track, so they have in place all the systems to protect this area, the city and the places we are going.

“So we feel confident and we have to trust the local authority in that respect. Therefore of course we will go ahead with the event.”

New FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, also spoke to the media after the meeting, and said that the attacks are not targeted at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, or the Formula 1 staff, meaning the race can go ahead as normal, reaffirming the “assurances” they were given by the locals:

“We had meetings with the head of security, and meetings with team principals and meeting with the drivers.

“And who are they targeting? They are targeting the infrastructure, not the civilians and not the track.

“Of course, we checked the facts from them and we had assurance from them that this is a secure place, the whole place will be secure and let’s go on racing.

“For sure all their families are here. We are only looking forward but with an assurance that nothing is going to happen,” concluded Sulayem.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained how the decision to race was unanimous between the team bosses because the Jeddah street circuit is “the safest place you can be”:

“It was a good meeting. Between the team principals (it was unanimous). The drivers are going to talk now in the drivers’ meeting and we, the team principals, have been assured that we are protected here. This is probably the safest place you can be in Saudi Arabia at the moment. That is why we are racing,” said Wolff.

One of his main rivals for the on-track competition, Christian Horner shared his view regarding the safety of the event, but emphasized that the sport “should not be bullied into a situation like that”, claiming it “isn’t acceptable”:

“Stefano (Domenicalli) and the (FIA) president are dealing with it and there have been all the assurances from the organisers and we will be going to race.

“I think the sport has to stand together collectively. Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned and the sport should not be bullied into a position and a situation like that, it just isn’t acceptable,” concluded Horner.

The drivers stayed on the circuit until after 2AM local time on Saturday morning, in a lengthy discussion that ultimately resulted in the race being given the green light. It is believed several drivers were against racing in Jeddah this weekend, given the circumstances, but the implications of a non-race would be greater, meaning the race will happen after all. All the latest news on this developing story can be found on MotorLAT, as soon as it happens.