Drivers met for more than four hours at the end of Friday’s session in Jeddah to discuss whether the Saudi Arabian GP should go ahead after a missile attack on the Aramco oil station less than 20km from the circuit.
Although the teams agreed “unanimously” in less than an hour that the F1 event should continue, the directors of each team and the heads of the championship, together with the Saudi authorities, had to convince the drivers before the final resolution.
According to a statement from the Formula 1 Drivers’ Association (GPDA), this came after “normal human concerns” sparked a debate to cancel the race.
Facing the media, for the first time since the near-track attacks, team bosses acknowledged that their drivers were concerned with the current situation, with Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto saying: “I don’t think we can say they are 100 % happy and completely relaxed.”
He continued: “I think they are still worried, but we are conveying to them the security that there is and the understanding of the importance of staying here and somehow trying to compete because it is the best option that we have.”
Reportedly, the Saudi authorities and security agencies relieved and reassured the drivers by saying “everything is safe and under control”, according to Aston Martin’s Mike Krack .
According to the director of Haas, Gunther Steiner , one of the reasons why the race continues is that these authorities are and live with their families in this same area, feeling 100% safe despite the conflict.
One of the people involved in defending the area also took part in the talks, giving a “very credible” explanation of the “technical systems” that are in place to protect those there.
Binotto said: “They [the drivers] were really worried. These are not normal things that happen around the circuit.”
“The concerns must be translated into considerations and discussions. We explained the situation to them, we made them understand that we are safe and protected.”
“They just understood and supported the fact that it’s important to stay, stay here and continue with the weekend in Saudi Arabia. Leaving the country would not have been the right choice.”
“[As Ferrari team principal] I think it’s important to listen [to the drivers], just as it’s important to explain to them what’s right.”
McLaren’s Andreas Seidl admitted that it “took a little time” for the drivers to understand “the vision that the authorities gave in a transparent way” about what happened during the first free practice session on Friday.
Seidl went on to say, “I guess it was important to invest that time and also have an open and transparent conversation.”
