By Sports Editor
SINGAPORE: The sports Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has assured the drivers and Formula One bosses that fool-proof security arrangements have been taken for this year’s F1 race being held in Jeddah.
The Minister said told reporters that he has held meetings with the drivers and the chief executives to address security concerns after missile attacks overshadowed this year’s race in Jeddah.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels hit an oil storage facility about 15km to the east of the Jeddah Corniche track in March, with smoke visible as cars lapped the Red Sea circuit during practice.
That shook the sport, racing for the second time in the Gulf kingdom, with drivers meeting for more than four hours as they considered whether to race.
The event went ahead after assurances from Saudi authorities but there was a collective acknowledgment that further discussions were needed.
“Most of the concerns were about the security really,” Reuters quoted Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal as telling select media including Reuters at last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“We met personally with all the team principals and I met personally with all the drivers.
“We spoke about all of these issues and we had an open dialogue with them now.”
Prince Al-Faisal said Formula One’s high profile meant security concerns were a new reality for the sport wherever it raced.
He cited examples of Silverstone this year, where ‘Just Stop Oil’ protesters invaded the track while cars were still circulating after the race had been halted on the opening lap and mass shootings in the United States.
“If you look at the world today there is chaos happening everywhere and we need to fight through that,” said Prince Al-Faisal.
