Despite the missile attack on an oil plant just a few kilometers away from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during the first free practice session on Friday, as we know, the second race of the 2022 Formula One season is set to go on as planned. The decision to hold a competition in Saudi Arabia was also questioned two weeks ago, after 81 men were executed in a single day in the country.
Howver, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali argues that the decisions are made with the aim of having a positive impact around the world.
“I don’t think that’s a fair consideration,” he told Sky Sports. “No one can judge our morality, to be honest. It’s about putting into action all the things that need to be considered. What’s the line? That’s the question. Our position, and it always will be the same, is we believe that what we are doing will have a very positive impact in all political situations for the best of our lives and at all levels. This will always be the consideration we will make for our future in sport, all over the world.”
Asked if they doubted whether Saudi Arabia would host a Grand Prix again in the future, Stefano Domenicali added: “It is a question of understanding the situation. We are not blind, but we must not forget one thing: this country and sport are taking a huge step forward. You cannot expect to change a culture of more than a millennium in the blink of an eye. The resources they are putting in place to move forward, you see them here. Don’t forget that a couple of years ago women couldn’t drive, and they are here on the grid, cheering and watching the sport. They are changing a lot of laws to make this happen. We have to consider this. Of course, we know there are tensions within, there are things that need to be improved. We don’t want to be political about this, but I believe we are playing a very important role in the modernization of this country. We are focusing on making it at the heart of our agenda “.
Stefano Domenicali also drew a distinction between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to the exclusion of the Russian Grand Prix, and Saudi Arabia’s ongoing conflict with Yemen.
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The 56-year-old Italian insisted that the safety of those linked to the sport will always come first.
“It’s a question of definition. Is a terrorist attack a war? We’re talking about sports,” he said. “Of course, we are in contact with all the authorities, with all the embassies, with all the right governing bodies. Of course, we will follow it, and we will never be in a situation that endangers the safety of our people.”
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