![]() ![]() All 20 had sat in a glass-fronted hospitality suite for over three hours listening to assurances from F1's top executives, their own team bosses and Saudi Arabian government officials that the event was safe. In the early hours of Saturday, word spread that F1's drivers had agreed among themselves not to race. Lars Baron/Getty Images How close did the drivers come to boycotting? Flames pour from a Saudi Aramco oil depot near the Jeddah F1 circuit Friday. Ultimately, F1 must weigh the benefits of racing in the country, which are almost entirely financial, with the safety and reputational risks that come with competing in Saudi Arabia. The race went ahead without any further issues after the Saudi Arabian government assured its safety, but ultimately will not remembered for the exciting duel between race winner Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in the closing laps.Īlthough the race took place, the longer-term ramifications for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix could be huge, with drivers demanding the future of the event is discussed once the sport has left the Kingdom. The decision to race felt oddly detached from the shocking images of the blaze, which accompanied the coverage of the event throughout its three days of track action. Verstappen, Leclerc entertain but shadow hangs over Saudi GP. ![]() In that same 24-hour period the race was nearly called off due to a planned driver boycott over safety concerns, but after a series of meetings that stretched into the early hours of Saturday morning, F1's bosses managed to talk the drivers back in to racing. The inferno, which was visible from the tops of tower blocks surrounding the circuit, took more than 24 hours to bring under control and was still smouldering as the sun set ahead of F1's qualifying session Saturday night. The conflict has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The missile strike was among the latest salvos in a seven-year conflict between Yemeni Houthis, who took responsibility for the attack on the Aramco-owned facility, and a Saudi-led coalition. The smoke was a result of a missile attack on an oil depot six miles to the east of the track that occurred 20 minutes into the opening practice session Friday afternoon. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - For two consecutive days Formula One cars lapped Jeddah's Corniche Circuit against the backdrop of a cloud of black smoke on the city's skyline. ![]()
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