Is The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Cancelled or Not? After Rocket Attack
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Does the Saudi Grand Prix still proceed following the rocket attack on a fuel depot near the Jeddah Corniche Circuit or is it canceled?
After the inaugural race in December, Formula 1 is back in Saudi Arabia and at Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the second time this year.
As well as the first practice session and qualifying for Formula 2, an Aramco oil depot near the track was targeted with a rocket attack.
When the F1 cars were on the track in FP1, thick smoke was being seen from the fire at the depot. Verstappen and his Red Bull squad smelt the smoke, and Verstappen inquired whether something was amiss with his RB18 machine.
Has the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix been called off?
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Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is not scheduled to be canceled on Saturday, March 26th as of 00:00 UTC, and all the other races are also scheduled to take place.
F1 and the FIA held a second meeting after the second practice for the teams and drivers.
There were no breaks until four hours and 20 minutes after two2:00 p.m. local time (19:00 p.m. UK).
The drivers stayed in the room for long periods, discussing the situation among themselves.
There was a team principal visit by Ross Brawn, Stefano Domenicali, FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem, along with other officials, some of whom had left the track but returned.
George Russell, director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, went to match control to meet with the principals of the teams after the meeting had ended.
Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull team, explained that his team would be racing.
As stated in a statement by race organizers Saudi Motorsport Company – the race was in constant communication with Saudi security authorities.
Is this the first time F1 has called races off?
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After two laps behind the safety car, the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa was abandoned due to torrential rain.
Max Verstappen was awarded half a point for his win in that race, and it was not officially canceled.
In the aftermath of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Grand Prix 2020 was canceled on Friday morning.
STATEMENT📣 pic.twitter.com/YZxqdY2AsU
— Saudi Motorsport Company (@SAUDIMOTORSPORT) March 25, 2022
Several teams tried to run the weekend – hours before the first practice was scheduled to begin.
Because of the excessive heat, the track broke up halfway through the weekend of the 1985 Belgian Grand Prix, which was canceled.
Later that year, it competed in the race and completed qualifying.
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
