The Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix continues "as planned" despite the attacks committed Friday in the country, in particular on an oil installation near the Jeddah circuit, and claimed by the Yemeni Houthi rebels.
“The authorities have confirmed that the event can continue as planned,” said the championship promoter, Formula 1, in a press release issued a few minutes after free practice 2, dominated by Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).
The attack on the oil site in Jeddah, which is among 16 claimed by the Houthis on Friday, caused a gigantic fire and a cloud of black smoke visible from the circuit during free practice 1 at 5:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. French).
Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) even asked his team over the radio: “I smell something burning, is that my car?
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⚠️ 10km separate the explosions linked to an attack and the Jeddah circuit.
The Grand Prix is maintained at the moment...
(🗞️ @MotorsportWeek)#F1 #SaudiArabianGP 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/NsBealEyjW
— Off Track (@OffTrack_FR) March 25, 2022
These attacks come on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the intervention of the military coalition led by Riyadh in Yemen to support the Yemeni government against the Houthis, close to Iran.
They caused no casualties according to Ryad.
The rebels carried out 16 attacks in the south and in Jeddah (west) targeting various infrastructures, including a power station, a water station and oil installations, the coalition said in a statement.
The most impressive took place in Jeddah against tanks of the oil giant Aramco, causing a gigantic fire.
Meetings between several players on the F1 circuit, including the drivers, took place on Friday after free practice.
Despite some concern, the weekend will therefore take place “as planned”.
“It's a bit incongruous, isn't it?
There is nothing to be alarmed about, we are rolling.
We'll see how it's all handled but F1 is playing with fire,” former English driver Damon Hill commented on Twitter.
Leclerc best in free practice
On the sporting side, already the fastest in free practice 1 in 1 min 30 sec 772/1000, Leclerc, winner of the inaugural GP in Bahrain last week, increased his time to 1 min 30 sec 074/1000 once night fell, under the conditions of qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
The arrival of F1 in Saudi Arabia last year is part of a campaign to develop "sports tourism" in the country, to diversify its oil economy and improve its image.
🇸🇦 SAUDI ARABIA: Yemeni Houthi rebels missile attack in the country.
A gigantic fire is underway at an oil installation in #Jeddah, where the Formula 1 Grand Prix is to be held this weekend.
#SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/5IOwmQexbe
– French Info (@InfosFrancaises) March 25, 2022
Its critics accuse the kingdom of "sportwashing", that is to say of using these events to make people forget its human rights failures, while it has multiplied the executions of death row prisoners since the beginning of 2022.
The pilots are "aware of the problems", answers the Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren).
But “I think that by coming here, we also have a chance to create a change or to have a positive influence.
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"Being brought here is not our responsibility but we try to do what we can, and I think it's important that we just try to inform ourselves," added Hamilton.
“At the end of the day, it's the responsibility of those in power to make changes and we don't really see any of it.
So we need to see more.
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