The organizers of the Formula 1 World Championships and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed on Saturday their intention to continue holding the Saudi Grand Prix, the second round of the 2022 championship, in the wake of a series of attacks targeting the kingdom.
One of them caused a massive fire at an Aramco oil facility in Jeddah, where the race is taking place.
The two parties announced in a joint statement that they confirmed, “after discussions with all teams and drivers, that the 2022 Saudi Grand Prix will continue as scheduled.”
They noted that “extensive discussions were held between all concerned parties, the Saudi authorities and security agencies, which provided detailed and complete assurances that the event was safe.”
They explained that all concerned parties “will continue an open and clear dialogue during the event (which continues until Sunday) and in the future.”
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association confirmed that it would continue racing after “wide discussions”.
“We hope that the Saudi Grand Prix will be remembered as a good race instead of yesterday’s accident,” the association said in a statement.
“We will continue the race,” several leaders of the competing teams confirmed to the media present at the venue.
On Friday, the Houthi rebels claimed a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia, one of which caused a massive fire at an Aramco oil facility in the city of Jeddah, not far from the circuit hosting the Formula One race.
The Houthi attacks come on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the start of the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen to confront the Houthis, who are close to Iran.