Formula 1 intends to return to Saudi Arabia despite the concerns drivers expressed about the race following Friday’s missile attack near the circuit.
An Aramco oil plant 10 kilometres from the circuit was attacked during F1’s first practice session on Friday. The blaze at the facility was visible from the track during the second session, held later that night.
While F1 and the FIA announced the event would continue as planned the 20 F1 drivers raised concerns over the safety of themselves and their team members. They met with team bosses and F1 representatives until the small hours of Saturday morning, eventually leaving the track at around 3am.
Drivers indicated they had been persuaded that calling off the race at short notice would be impractical. However some said they had been given assurances F1 would evaluate whether it was safe to return.
“Formula 1 promised us to reconsider all the events for the future, including this one, to make sure that we go to the right places,…