F1's Saudi Arabian GP to go ahead despite driver protests after oil depot attack

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — This weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is expected to go ahead as planned despite Formula One drivers raising concerns about a missile attack on a nearby oil facility Friday afternoon.

Talks between drivers, team bosses and F1 executives over the security of the event continued until 2.30 a.m. on Saturday before team principals emerged from a meeting with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and confirmed the race would go ahead.

The safety of the event was called into question after an Aramco oil depot 10 kilometers east of the circuit was hit by a missile attack on Friday afternoon.

A military spokesperson for Yemen's Houthis, which have been battling a coalition led by Saudi Arabia for seven years, claimed responsibility for the attack on the facility, which is owned by F1 sponsor Aramco.

The drivers had been considering boycotting the event but were talked out of it in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The facility remained in flames throughout the night, with a large plume of smoke still visible from several miles away on Saturday morning.

Saudi Arabian authorities stated there were no casualties as a result of the attacks.

In a statement at noon on Saturday, over eight hours after the drivers had been persuaded not to boycott the event the night before, F1 confirmed the race would go ahead.

«Formula One and the FIA can confirm that following discussions with all the teams and drivers, the 2022 FIA Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will continue as scheduled,» the statement read.

«Following the widely reported incident that took place in Jeddah on Friday, there has been extensive discussion between all stakeholders, the Saudi government authorities and security agencies who have given full and