The Formula 1 drivers actually intended to boycott the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after the bomb attack on an Aramco facility near the racetrack, but were persuaded during the night from Friday to Saturday to refrain from doing so and qualifying and the race contest as planned. Motorsport Network journalists researched this on site in Jeddah.
For the first time in years, the drivers’ union GPDA came close to boycotting a race weekend. Ultimately, it took until 3 a.m. local time at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the four-hour crisis session to end and for the decision, announced earlier by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem, to be made.
On Saturday morning, the GPDA then published a statement in which the information that a boycott was actually planned was not explicitly confirmed. It only says that it was “a difficult day for Formula 1” and “a stressful day for us Formula 1 drivers”.
“It’s difficult to understand for someone who has never driven a Formula 1 car at this fast and challenging track. But it was difficult to see the smoke after the incident and still be a fully focused racer and at it blocking out all human fears and worries.”
During the crisis meeting that followed, not only the decision-makers in Formula 1 were listened to, “but also the ministers of the Saudi government, who explained to us how the safety precautions are being increased to a maximum”.
The outcome of this is “that we have agreed to do practice, qualifying and the race. We therefore hope that the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be remembered as a good race and not for the incident that took place yesterday Has.”
During the drivers’ crisis meeting, which originally began as the usual Friday briefing, many drivers expressed great concern for the safety of the event. When a boycott was in the room, Formula 1 CEO Domenicali and Formula 1 sports director Ross Brawn came to the meeting again.
Ultimately, the drivers could apparently be sufficiently assured that they did not have to worry about safety. On Saturday morning there was even an official statement from Formula 1 that the event would continue as planned.
Reporter explains decision to remain on site
So while Lewis Hamilton & Co. are staying, others have already left. Sky expert Ralf Schumacher was one of the first to announce that he was on his way; he was later followed by commentator Sascha Roos and reporter Sandra Baumgartner. Reporter Peter Hardenacke stays on site with a camera team.
“Sky gave us the freedom to make the decision for us whether we want to stay or fly home,” he explains to “Motorsport-Total.com”. “For my part, I’m staying here because I don’t have the acute feeling that I’m in danger. Even if it’s ultimately a matter of feeling, because nobody can guarantee me that.”
“And on the other hand, the event is going on and I would like to convey what is happening here on site and what the drivers are thinking and feeling after this long session on Friday evening. And I would like to know what Formula 1 is about all these discussions this weekend,” says Hardenacke.