F1 teams unanimously agree to continue Saudi Arabian GP weekend

Formula 1 and its ten teams have all agreed to continue their Saudi Arabian GP weekend following an extraordinary meeting that took place after FP2, just hours after a missile attack in Jeddah.

The attack was perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels on a Saudi Aramco oil storage facility located just 10 km from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Friday's first practice session was in full swing at Jeddah when a column of smoke was seen billowing in the distance from the fuel depot.

Teams representatives and drivers subsequently attended an information meeting with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem that delayed the start of FP2 by fifteen minutes.

However, a second extraordinary meeting took place after FP2 with all 10 teams and 20 drivers in attendance, with the group briefed on the latest developments by Domenicali and Sulayem who jointly stated after the assembly that a unanimous agreement had been reached with drivers and teams to continue with the event.

"We’ve received all assurances that the country’s safety comes first, no matter the situation," said Domenicali.

"Safety has to be guaranteed, they are here with their families, so they have in place all the systems to protect this area.

"We have to trust the local authorities in that respect and, therefore, of course, we go ahead with the event.

"We’re all together on this," added the Italian. "It’s something that is relevant for all of us, and we need to trust the local authorities – not only here, all around the world."

• Read also: Saudi GP promoter pledges race will go ahead as planned

Although security was heightened ahead of this weekend's event following the Houthi's recent increased attacks on Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure, the country's authorities reassured F1 that this weekend's event in Jeddah was not a target.

It is believed that the Saudis have installed a missile defense system in the vicinity of the track, just in case.

"We had a meeting with high level security officials, we had meetings with the team principals, we had meetings with the drivers," said Ben Sulayem, flanked by Domenciali.

"Who are they targeting? They are targeting the oil company, not the civilian and not, of course, the event.

"Of course, we had assurances from a high level this is a secured place, the whole place will be secured and let’s go on racing.

"We’re only looking forward but with the assurance that nothing is going to happen."

A reassured Toto Wolff reckoned the F1 community is well protected this weekend and "one of the safest places in Saudi Arabia", while his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner said that canceling the event would equate to giving in to terrorism.

"The sport has to stand together collectively," he said. "Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned, and sport shouldn’t be bullied into a position that…a situation like that just isn’t acceptable,” said Horner.

"Stefano and the president, they’re dealing with it, there’s been all the assurances from the organisers, and we’ll be going racing."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter