Excited meeting between the pilots after a missile hit a refinery 20 km from the track: two sides, Hamilton did not want to race, Leclerc and Verstappen s. Having obtained the necessary security guarantees, it was decided to go ahead
At four in the morning the Jeddah waterfront was full, cars at walking pace. Groups of women walking around alone, boys on bicycles, crowded hamburger stalls. The effects are just a few kilometers from the track of the Houthi militia missile attack on the Aramco distribution center they are not felt in the least.
–
The race goes on – the FIA and the drivers also confirmed it in a note -, but was very close to jumping due to strong differences between the pilots. There was one extraordinary meeting, tense and excited, which lasted four hours and ended in the middle of the night with continuous mediation attempts by the leaders of F1, the FIA, the team principals, to try to bring the positions closer. To underline the delicacy and complexity of the subject, never in recent times had it happened to see athletes shooting so late the day before qualifying, to discuss.
–
They did not all agree as they were led to believeif the teams unanimously agreed to continue the Saudi Arabian GP after receiving reassurances on safety from the Saudi authorities, several drivers instead tried to boycott the race. They felt uncomfortable running in these conditions, they said. The rumors leaked from the meeting tell us that the most motivated in this sense were Lewis Hamiltonthe mate George Russell (who also vice-president of the Grand Prix Driver’s Association, a kind of trade union), Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. While the Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, and the two of Red Bull, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were intent on driving.
–
Between opportunistic calculations and real fears, the long meeting revealed a rift between the pilots and those who make the decisions, which was stitched up only thanks to a fierce pressing of the teams. A decision, that of moving forward, made official in the morning by the FIA which specified that after the accident there was a wide discussion between the interested parties, the Saudi government authorities and the security agencies who gave complete and detailed assurances that the safe event. A version confirmed by the drivers in a press release with practically identical tones: We had a lot of discussions, talked with the leaders of Formula 1 and with the Saudi government, who explained to us how the safety measures have been further improved. Cos we decided to move on.
–
Pilot boycotts have never worked well, in history we remember the missed Belgian GP in 1985. But that time there were very specific reasons to put everyone in agreement, including the asphalt that was falling apart. For the rest, F1 has shown a ruthless cynicism even in the most complicated situations. How can we forget the negotiation (including the night one) between the teams to try to compete in the Australian GP in March 2020, despite full-blown Covid positive cases and the withdrawal by some teams, including McLaren and Ferrari.
–
The pilots said yes after obtaining the necessary guarantees – at least according to them – on safety
. On what basis it is not known, it is very likely that anti-aircraft batteries were placed next to the circuit – Domenicali spoke of all types of defense systems -, including the Patriot missiles supplied by the United States to the Saudi ally. Beyond all judgment, getting into the head of those who go through life at 300 per hour is a complicated exercise. While certain that F1 cannot give up on Arabia, due to the very rich contract that binds Gedda to the World Championshipfor the role of main sponsor of Aramco.
–
March 26, 2022 (change March 26, 2022 | 11:23)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
–
—
