Stefano Domenicali says "no one can judge F1's morality" on the basis of its commercial relationship with Saudi Arabia, insisting the sport isn't blind to the controversies surrounding the country's presence on Grand Prix racing's calendar.
Last weekend's action in Jeddah delivered a thrilling spectacle to F1 fans, with entertaining battles up and down the field in Sunday's race.
But off the track, there was cause for concern following the missile attack perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels that took place on Friday at a Saudi Aramco oil storage facility located just 10km from Jeddah's street circuit.
The worrying incident was the subject of several lengthy debates between the FIA, F1 and its teams, but also among the grid's 20 drivers who convened late on Friday under the umbrella of the GPDA to consider their safety and whether to race or not.
While the group felt rightly concerned by the situation, it ultimately decided that boycotting the race would serve no practical purpose nor would it have conferred a heightened sense of security as the F1 community at large would not have been able to pack up and leave within the follwoing few hours.
However, teams and drivers did agree that the future of the Saudi Arabian GP – despite its 15-year contract with F1 – must be discussed in the near term.
But in an interview over the weekend with Sky Sports, a defiant Domenicali appeared to consider the Kingdom's spot on Grand Prix racing's calendar as set in stone, no matter what.
"No one can judge our morality, to be honest," argued F1's chief executive. "It is a matter of putting in place all the things that have to be considered.
"Where is the line? That is the question. Our position, and it will always be, is that we believe that what we’re doing will have a very positive impact in all the political situations for the best of our life and at all levels.
"This will always be the consideration we will take for our future in the sport, all over the world."
Formula 1 has been heavily criticized for its decision to race in a country accused of sports-washing its human rights record by inviting high-profile sporting events to project a favourable image of Saudi Arabia.
Last weekend's safety issues notwithstanding, Domenicali insists F1 "isn't blind" to the controversies surrounding its presence in Saudi Arabia.
But the Italian has - unsurprisingly - given no hint that there may be a question mark over F1's future in the country.
"It is not a matter of questions marks; it is a matter of understanding the situation," he said.
"We are not blind, but we should not forget one thing: this country and the sport is taking a massive step forward. You cannot pretend to change a culture of more than a millennium in the blink of an eye.
"The resources that they’re putting in place to move forward, you see here. Don’t forget a couple of years ago, women couldn’t drive, and they are here on the grid, cheering and seeing the sport.
"They are changing a lot of laws in order to make sure this [F1] is happening. We have to consider that.
"Of course, there are tensions inside, there are things that have to be improved.
"We don’t want to be political on that, but I do believe that we’re playing a very important role in the modernisation of this country.
"We are focusing on making sure it is at the centre of our agenda."
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