Aramco oil depot just six miles from F1 venue hit by missile on Friday.
- Black smoke was seen in the skyline during the daytime practice session on Friday afternoon after initial reports of a fire at an Aramco distribution station.
- The North Jeddah Bulk Plant is located about six miles from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, site of this weekend’s F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
- Aramco became a Global Partner of Formula 1 in 2020 and its blue-and-green branding features extensively trackside at Grands Prix. It is also the title sponsor of the United States Grand Prix at Austin.
Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah will continue as planned following an attack on a nearby oil facility belonging to state-controlled oil firm Aramco.
Black smoke was seen in the skyline during the daytime practice session on Friday afternoon after initial reports of a fire at an Aramco distribution station. The North Jeddah Bulk Plant is located about six miles from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a street-based track which runs adjacent to the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city.
The Yemeni Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on Aramco’s Jeddah distribution station and on other sites in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The group also launched attacks on facilities in the country last Sunday. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition of forces battling the Houthi as part of the proxy war in Yemen since 2015.
Reuters reported that two storage tanks were struck but that there were no casualties.
A meeting was convened prior to Friday’s second practice session, scheduled for 8 p.m. local time, at which drivers and senior team figures were present, along with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. They were briefed on the situation by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
Fire rages at an Aramco facility located about 10 kilometers (six miiles) from the F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix circuit on Friday.
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Due to the timing of the meeting second practice was pushed back by 15 minutes, until 8:15 p.m., and all 20 drivers participated in the hour-long session. During the session, Formula 1 and the Saudi Motorsport Company confirmed the Grand Prix would be going ahead as planned.
“Formula 1 has been in close contact with the relevant authorities following the situation that took place today,” read Formula 1’s statement. “The authorities have confirmed that the event can continue as planned and we will remain in close contact with them and all the teams and closely monitor the situation.”
SMC affirmed that race organizers “remain in direct contact with the Saudi security authorities” to ensure that “all necessary security and safety measures continue to be implemented to guarantee the safety of all visitors.”
F1 officials do not feel that the F1 venue would be a missile target despite a blast Friday just outside the city.
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A further meeting involving key figures, including drivers and team bosses, was held after the practice session at 22:00 local time, following which Domenicali and Ben Sulayem addressed the media.
“We’ve just done a meeting with the drivers and the Team Principals, together with the maximum authority of Saudi, with the Prince, the Minister of Sport and the President of the Saudi ASN, with the president of the FIA,” he said. “We’ve received all assurances that the country’s safety comes first, no matter the situation, safety has to be guaranteed, they are here with their families, so they have in place all the systems to protect this area. We have to trust the local authorities in that respect and, therefore, of course, we go ahead with the event.”
Ben Sulayem added: “We had meetings with high level security officials, we had meetings with the team principals, we had meetings with the drivers and, I ask you: Who are they targeting? They are targeting the infrastructure, not the civilians and not, of course, the event. Of course we had assurances from high level (authorities) this is a secure place, the whole place will be secured and let’s go on racing.”
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was quickest in Friday practice.
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Wealthy Saudi Arabia has become an increasingly major player in the motorsport world in recent years. Having attracted the Race of Champions, Dakar Rally and Formula E, it joined Formula 1’s schedule in 2021 on a long-term deal that runs into the 2030s.
An extensive sports and entertainment hub, called Qiddiya, is under construction on the outskirts of capital city Riyadh. Formula 1’s Grand Prix is due to relocate there once it is complete, which is unlikely to be until 2025 at the earliest, while a MotoGP round is also on the country’s wish list.
The decision to hold events in Saudi Arabia has regularly received criticism over the country’s record on human rights. Part of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Formula 1 has been through Aramco.
Aramco became a Global Partner of Formula 1 in 2020 and its blue-and-green branding features extensively trackside at Grands Prix. It is also the title sponsor of the United States Grand Prix and for 2022 became the title partner of the Aston Martin Formula 1 team.
On track, title leader Charles Leclerc led the way through both practice sessions, ahead of Max Verstappen. However it was not a perfect day for Leclerc as he clipped the wall during second practice and lost out on vital track running. Further down the grid Nico Hulkenberg remains in action for Aston Martin in Jeddah after Sebastian Vettel was unable to return the required negative COVID test.
Keyword: F1 Says Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Still On Despite Nearby Missile Strike