Horner backs decision to race, sport ‘shouldn’t be bullied’
Christian Horner supports Formula 1’s decision to continue with the Saudi Arabian GP weekend, saying sport “shouldn’t be bullied”.
Round two of the 2022 championship, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, was thrown into chaos on Friday when Yemen’s Houthi rebel group launched a missile attack on an oil facility just nine miles away from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The attack took place during Friday’s first practice leading to a 15-minute delay to the start of FP2 as the drivers and team bosses met F1 president Stefano Domenicali and the FIA’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
A second meeting was held after FP2, that one lasting four hours with Formula 1’s bosses eventually putting to bed threats from the drivers to boycott the rest of the race weekend.
Domenicali came out of that meeting declaring “we will race”.
Red Bull team boss Horner says that is the right decision.
“I think the sport has to stand together collectively,” said the Briton.
“Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned, and the sport shouldn’t be bullied into a position that a situation like that just isn’t acceptable.
Video: Brawn doubts rivals will purposely make following harder (PlanetF1)
Serious work needed at McLaren
Leclerc wants 23 wins, would settle for five
Verstappen’s racing tactics questioned
Max won title with aggression
Russell not at Mercedes to steal Hamilton’s crown
Brundle and JV on McLaren struggles
Brundle on what Hamilton needs to continue in F1
Magnussen says racing ‘so much better’ in F1
Mixed fortunes for AlphaTauri
Brundle doubts Perez’s title credentials
F1 could have 30-race calendar ‘tomorrow’
A disastrous weekend for Red Bull
A ‘lot of everything’ wrong with the W13
“Stefano and the president, they’re dealing with it, and there have been all