F1 drivers agree to race in Saudi after reassurances that safety will be increased

Formula 1 drivers on Saturday (26 March) said they would race in Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after long talks and reassurances from Saudi government ministers that security was being ramped up to the maximum in the wake of attacks on an oil facility near the Jeddah street circuit on Friday.

Drivers met for more than four hours at the Jeddah Corniche circuit at a gathering that stretched into early Saturday morning after F1 and local organisers had already said the race would go ahead as planned, casting doubt on whether they would actually race.

They did not speak to the media after the meeting but team bosses confirmed the race was on.

Drivers body GPDA said in a statement: "We went into long discussions between ourselves, with our team principals, and with the most senior people who run our sport.

"A large variety of opinions were shared and debated and, having listened not only to the F1 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 practise and qualify Saturday and race Sunday."

Difficult to focus

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Friday said they launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities. The Saudi-led coalition fighting them said state-owned oil giant Aramco's petroleum products distribution station was hit, causing a fire in two tanks but no casualties.

A huge plume of black smoke rose over Jeddah to the east of the track as cars went around the street circuit during Friday's first practice.

In their GPDA statement, drivers said seeing the smoke had made it difficult to remain fully focused as they tackled the blind, high-speed sweeps and flat-out stretches of the track located on the shores of the