The thick smoke cloud which drifted over the track during first practice signalled a disturbing turn of events at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Claire Cottingham saw it unfold in Jeddah.
Thursday
Most of the media arrived at the track early, as in Bahrain, despite the reduction in teams’ media activities. I flew in overnight on Wednesday and had spent much of my first day exploring the old town in Jeddah with a friend.
I had some apprehensions and was advised that I should always travel with a male companion, especially if it was away from F1 commitments. Luckily, the organisers had put on media shuttles and I was comfortably able to make my way to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, however I felt I probably would’ve been fine going alone.
On our journey in, I noticed how unfinished and run-down the outside of the track looked, but reserved any judgement until I entered the circuit, despite the chaos on the roads around it.
The media centre, or I should say, media island, is stunning. An…