F1 drivers explain "natural human concerns" about racing in Saudi Arabia

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association has explained it had to "erase natural human concerns" in order to come to the conclusion about racing in this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The drivers held a four-and-a-half-hour meeting after second practice at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit following a terrorist missile strike on an oil refinery 11 kilometres away from the track.

During that period of time, all 20 drivers spoke with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and managing director motorsports Ross Brawn, as well as their own team principals, to fully understand the ramifications of the incident that had unfolded.

F1 and the FIA has confirmed the race will go ahead this weekend after being given implicit safety assurances.

With that in mind, a statement from the GPDA read: “Perhaps it is hard to comprehend if you have never driven an F1 car on this fast and challenging Jeddah track but on seeing the smoke from the incident it was difficult to remain a fully focused race driver and erase natural human concerns.

“Consequently, we went into long discussions between ourselves, with our team principals, and with the most senior people who run our sport.

“A large variety of opinions were shared and debated and having listened not only to the Formula 1 powers but also to the Saudi government ministers who explained how security measures were being elevated to the maximum, the outcome was a resolution that we would practise and qualify today and race tomorrow.

“We, therefore, hope that the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be remembered as a good race rather than for the incident that took place yesterday.”

GPDA statment: pic.twitter.com/mVbUnD49JL

— alex wurz (@alex_wurz) March 26, 2022

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