Saudi Arabia government want to 'sit down' with drivers in bid to save 2023 Grand Prix

Leading government figures in Saudi Arabia have vowed to "sit down" with drivers and offer assurances on future races following the controversial events of last weekend. Sunday's Grand Prix went ahead as scheduled despite Friday's practice session being disrupted by a missile attack on a oil depot less than 10 miles from the Jeddah track.

The incident resulted in late night talks between teams and F1 bosses, with a number of drivers, Lewis Hamilton among them, reportedly uncomfortable with the prospect of racing. However, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reportedly insisted it was safe to proceed, and on Saturday morning it was confirmed the event would go ahead.

The saga raised further questions about Grand Prix races being held in the country, amid a deplorable human rights record and much criticised stance on LGBTQ+ issues. The track itself also came under scrutiny last December in the 2022 affair, with the lightning quick track prompting a series of accidents and both yellow and red flags.

Sunday's action did prove engrossing, with Max Verstappen overtaking Charles Leclerc with four laps to go and then holding on to take the chequered flag. But the fallout has continued, and now Saudi Arabia's minister for sport, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisa, has pledged to reach out to all teams before 2023.

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"We haven't got into the details. yet but we are open to discussions," he told motorsport.com. "We are open to sit down, see where the issues are, what the assurances are they need." And the Prince promised transparency in light of any concerns.

"Whatever they want, we are here to host F1 as best as it can be