JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes it is important Formula One shines a “spotlight” on problems in the Middle East after security concerns at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix nearly led F1 drivers to boycott the event.
F1’s 20 drivers considered not racing in Jeddah this weekend after a missile attack on a nearby oil depot on Friday raised concerns about the safety at the venue.
A military spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthis, which have been battling a coalition led by Saudi Arabia for seven years, claimed responsibility for the attack on the facility, which is run by state-owned energy company Aramco.
Team bosses and F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali eventually convinced the drivers to continue to race this weekend, but a number have made it clear that they want to revisit the issue after the event.
When asked if F1 simply had to accept nearby missile strikes as part of the reality of racing in Saudi Arabia, Wolff said: “We just need to understand that this…
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