Formula 1 drivers want talks over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix’s future despite CEO Stefano Domenicali insisting the race has a “positive impact”.
Huge questions were raised over the event’s security following a missile attack roughly 10km from the circuit on Jeddah’s Corniche during first practice on Friday.
While the FIA, F1 and team bosses voted unanimously to continue racing after reassurances from organisers and Saudi ministers, the drivers were much more hesitant, with a four-hour meeting of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association that included discussions of a boycott.
One voice that reportedly led that meeting was Lewis Hamilton, who later admitted: “I am so happy the weekend is done and I am also just so happy that everyone is safe.
“I am looking forward to getting out, I just want to go home.”
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McLaren’s Lando Norris echoed the view of many drivers explaining that, though last weekend’s race did go ahead, further talks were needed with F1 bosses on where the sport goes racing in Saudi in the future.
“Of course, I am relieved,” he said of the event ending without any further incidents.
“Under any circumstance all we want to do is race. But it is a nervous place to be and you are going to have these nerves and that is why we had the discussions we did. We were given reassurances and told it is safe and we had to believe that.
“Whether we come back or not – I would love to look forward to doing that because it is a fun track, but those are discussions we will have after the weekend.”
In response, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali began by insisting the sport was not putting money before morals and that the race in Jeddah can play a role in helping the Kingdom open up.
“No one can judge our morality, to be honest. It is a matter of putting in place all the things that have to be considered,” he said.
“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 on 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.”
But with human rights concerns and the war in Yemen ongoing, the Italian conceded changing the Saudi culture overnight isn’t possible.
“It is not a matter of questions marks; it is a matter of understanding the situation,” Domenicali added.
“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.”
