Formula 1 will proceed with this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as planned, despite a drawn-out meeting of the drivers in the Jeddah paddock. F1 drivers present at the event, including GPDA Director and Mercedes racer George Russell, gathered for discussions over the continuation of the race weekend after an attack on an oil depot close to the circuit. But while the meeting seemingly left drivers at loggerheads for large periods, Saturday's practice and qualifying sessions, and Sunday's race, are set to go ahead.
A night of meetings in Jeddah
On Friday afternoon, during FP1, large fires could be seen only a matter of miles from the circuit following the aforementioned attack on an Aramco oil depot. Despite this, all 10 Team Principals - as per Mercedes boss Toto Wolff - voted unanimously for the race weekend to continue. However, their drivers held a lengthy meeting at the Corniche Circuit that plunged the weekend's racing into some doubt. After over an hour of the drivers' meeting, F1 chiefs Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali were seen to exit, while the sport's stars continued their talks. A short while later, Team Principals up and down the grid returned to the room and conversations then appeared to resume. But some four hours in, the extraordinary meeting finally concluded, with Russell and Team Principals - including Wolff and Christian Horner - walking to Race Control together to address Formula 1 officials. Minutes later, the teams returned to their hospitality areas with a decision seemingly having been made.
Official word is yet to emerge
An official statement from F1 regarding the meeting, or any comment from the GPDA, is yet to emerge – perhaps unsurprisingly, given that the meeting concluded at close to 03:00 local time in Jeddah. However, it is understood that the Grand Prix remains on following further assurances from authorities regarding security and safety. Specific details from the drivers' lengthy discussions are yet to be revealed, while almost all of them have been conspicuously silent on social media. One exception is Sergio Perez, with the Mexican driver taking to Twitter just after the conclusion of the meeting, as he tweeted a picture of himself in his Red Bull with the caption: "Ready and totally focused for tomorrow's qualy!"
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