After the end of the first free practice session for the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the sporting events on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah initially took a back seat. Because just a few kilometers from the Formula 1 race track, an attack on a factory of the mineral oil company Aramco is said to have occurred.
The start of the second free practice session at 8:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. German time) was initially postponed by 15 minutes. Shortly before, Formula 1 had convened a meeting with all team bosses and drivers. It was discussed to drive the Friday training first and then to hold another meeting afterwards.
“We were assured by the government that it is safe to drive here. After the training we will have another meeting,” reports Haas team boss Günther Steiner to “ServusTV” and emphasizes: “Personally, I feel absolutely safe. Otherwise I would not be here.”
Helmut Marko also believes “that it is the right thing” not to cancel the Grand Prix. The teams were informed “that a drone was sent from Yemen. The Saudis have a defense system and for some reason the drone was not intercepted,” he explains in an interview with “Sky”.
Red Bull motorsport consultant: “The appointment was deliberately chosen”
“I think the date was deliberately chosen. The rebels know that they get a lot more publicity at the Grand Prix. That’s part of this concept,” says Marko. “I think there are often these drone attacks. But they have a very good defense system. Now we have to find out why it didn’t work.”
“It’s not the first drone. But it’s the first to have a massive impact. You shouldn’t let terror completely intimidate you into normal life. We should take a look now, and once security is guaranteed for the next two days, then we should drive,” says the Red Bull motorsport consultant.
Mobile phone videos initially circulated on Twitter, showing a blaze of flames in the factory. Colleagues on site at the racetrack reported that a gigantic cloud of smoke could be seen in the distance, which was not shown by the international TV directors. Apparently the fire was near the airport, which is around ten kilometers from the racetrack.
Rebels confirmed attacks
According to agency reports, the Houthi rebels have now confirmed that they have launched a series of attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Saudi state television has confirmed attacks against targets in the city of Dhahran, including damage to a water reservoir and homes, and near the Yemeni border.
And not for the first time. The race in Saudi Arabia was on the brink of cancellation last week when the same Aramco facility was attacked with a missile and drones on Sunday. At the time, Saudi Arabian state television reported that another missile had been intercepted by the air defenses.
An attack on an Aramco facility is extremely disturbing news from the perspective of members of the local Formula 1 circus in Jeddah. Aramco is a Saudi Arabian state-owned company that not only sponsors the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, but is also one of the most important series sponsors of Formula 1.
Even before the incident on Friday, the “dpa” quoted a Saudi Arabian government spokesman as saying that “the safety of our guests has top priority”. The organizers also tried to remain calm: “This incident has no impact on the race weekend.”
Irrespective of what happened on Friday, Amnesty International had called for a boycott of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in the run-up to the Grand Prix. The statement said, among other things: “Despite promises of reform, the state of human rights violations continues to deteriorate.”
“Understandably, the world’s attention is focused on Ukraine right now. But the sports world must not limit its awareness to just one conflict. Saudi Arabia must not be given a free pass for its continued bombings of civilians in Yemen,” the human rights organization said.