Not all drivers agreed with this decision. A number of drivers would rather not take action this weekend, but after hours of deliberation, the light is still green and racing is ongoing. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and McLaren team principal Zak Brown confirmed this on Friday and Saturday night.
The drivers talked to each other for hours, after which the team bosses were called back to discuss. The parties then entered into a conclave with Domenicali, after which the position remained the same: the race continues.
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Formula 1 released a statement on Friday evening. “We have been in close contact with all relevant authorities in response to the situation that has arisen today. They have confirmed that the event can go ahead. We are monitoring the situation closely and remain in close contact with the authorities and all teams.”
The second free practice session started 15 minutes later than planned on Friday, as drivers and team bosses were updated by Domenicali. A number of drivers had indicated that they would rather not drive. After that, everyone was still active during the training.
Leclerc the fastest again
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the second session, just like in the first free practice. The Ferrari driver, winner of the first race in Bahrain, was almost one and a half tenths of a second faster than Max Verstappen. Verstappen did drive on the harder medium tyre. Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz set the third fastest time. Both Ferrari drivers did not come into action in the final phase of the training, after they both came into contact with the wall. Behind the Ferraris and Red Bulls, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (Mercedes) came in fifth and sixth.
Second meeting
At 10 p.m. local time, 8 p.m. in the Netherlands, another meeting was scheduled with Domenicali and the team bosses. All drivers also joined the meeting. After this meeting, Domenicali has therefore confirmed that the race will continue for the time being. According to sources, the authorities have assured that the safety of the event is at the top of their priority list, but the attack by the Yemeni rebels logically raises many questions.
The Saudi Motorsport Company also says in a statement that safety has been guaranteed for all those present at the circuit and that the race weekend will continue.