F1 | Saudi Arabian GP | F1 and FIA release joint statement on continuing the event, GPDA had "natural human concerns" after missile attack
Both F1 and FIA decided that the Saudi Arabian GP will take place, despite yesterday's attack near to the circuit.
After a long night of meetings and uncertainties, this morning the official joint FIA-F1 statement on arrived: the Saudi Arabian GP will regularly take place.
FIA and Formula 1 have confirmed that the race weekend will go on in Jeddah despite yesterday's attack by Yemeni rebels on an Aramco oil plant just over 20km from the circuit. The discussions, between drivers, teams, F1 leaders and the Federation, lasted several hours and brought to this:
Joint statement on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/xsyYpvVmhB
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 26, 2022
Even if some drivers have expressed the will not to race, because the situation was considered too dangerous, FP3, qualifying and the race will be going ahead as scheduled.
The drivers met for over four hours last night in the Jeddah paddock, and didn't conclude the meeting until after 2am local time.
This is the statement of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association):
“Yesterday was a difficult day for Formula 1 and a stressful day for us Formula 1 drivers,” the statement began with.
“Perhaps it is hard to comprehend if you have never driven an F1 car on this fast and challenging Jeddah track but, on seeing the smoke from the incident, it was difficult to remain a fully focused race driver and erase natural human concerns.”
“A large variety of opinions were shared and debated and, having listened not only to the Formula 1 powers but also to the Saudi government ministers who explained how security measures were being elevated to the maximum, the outcome was a resolution that we would practice and qualify today, and race tomorrow.
"We therefore hope that the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be remembered as a good race rather than for the incident that took place yesterday.”
pic.twitter.com/mVbUnD49JL
— alex wurz (@alex_wurz) March 26, 2022