F1 racers are allowed to give up their performance in Saudi Arabia

Formula 1 teams have informed their racers that they can skip the race for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix if they so wish.

Friday’s free practice was overshadowed by a bomb attack about 10 kilometers away at the Aramca refinery, which has caused teams and racers to worry about their safety. Formula 1 received assurances from the local authorities that the race was completely safe, and the meeting of the racers dragged on long into the night. At a four-and-a-half-hour meeting, it was agreed that the racing weekend would go according to plan, but some racers disagreed.

But some teams allowed their racers to miss the show. “You can’t force someone who doesn’t want to race to race,” explained Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack. “We are not in this position, but if we were, we would have to respect the opinions and concerns of the racers with whom we would talk and try to find an agreement, and understand the problem. But in the end, we should respect their decision. "

Williams team boss Jost Capito also agreed with a colleague. “That’s how we think in all teams,” he confirmed.

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto confirmed that all members of the team have a free path if they want to leave Saudi Arabia, but according to him, so far no one has expressed a desire to do so. “No one has left, nor does anyone want to leave,” Binotto said. "Let me make it clear that Ferrari, before I arrived, checked the situation in the country and made sure we were all safe."