Formula E move ahead with Saudi Arabia race despite controversy

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag has confirmed that the motorsport series still plans to hold their opening race of the season in Saudi Arabia in December, despite international ties with the country becoming strained in the wake of the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen who writes for the Washington Post, had been critical of the regime of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in columns for the American publication.

There are serious concerns for Khashoggi's well-being since going missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey a fortnight ago, leading the international community to be critical of alleged Saudi involvment in the incident.

Following the disappearance, global organisations such as Google, Virgin, Uber, Viacom as well as numerous media outlets have distanced themselves from Saudi Arabia.

Executives from the following companies have now dropped out of the Saudi conference:

•Uber
•Virgin
•Viacom
•Hyperloop
•Ford
•JPMorgan Chase
•BlackRock
•Blackstone
•Sinovation Ventures
•MasterCard
•Sotheby's
•KKR
•Bain Capital
•Google — Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) 15 October 2018

However, Agag stated that Formula E are not ready to change their plans - for the moment.

“Referring to the incident, we obviously have no comment to make," Agag told The Associated Press on Monday.

"At this moment there are no plans to change the Formula E calendar this season. Of course we are monitoring [the situation].”