[Official] Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2022: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 2

[Sodemo]

Do they have missile intercept systems at the circuit?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Toto agreed with Christian, (as did the other team principals) but dont let that stop you pushing your barrow.

Horner and Wolff were united that the show must go on.

“We had a good meeting and we — the team principals — are all agreed on this to go ahead. This circuit is probably the safest place in Saudi Arabia at this moment,” said Wolff.

Others may have agreed, but Christian went further, saying they wouldn't be bullied by terrorists, ignoring the fact the Saudis are just as bad to Yemen.

It's all very well for those in the sport to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but they then go to this country that's having it's own conflict

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Do they have missile intercept systems at the circuit?

https://www.globalsecurity.org/milit...ace-shield.htm

[bella]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Others may have agreed, but Christian went further, saying they wouldn't be bullied by terrorists, ignoring the fact the Saudis are just as bad to Yemen.

It's all very well for those in the sport to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but they then go to this country that's having it's own conflict

the fact you don’t mention baku as being problematic says it all…

the world is not black and white, nothing is clear cut, especially not as clear cut as the f1 fandom makes it.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bella

the fact you don’t mention baku as being problematic says it all…

the world is not black and white, nothing is clear cut, especially not as clear cut as the f1 fandom makes it.

So the fact I didn’t mention Baku means my point is invalid? Ridiculous logic. FWIW I haven’t been thrilled with F1 going there either.

And yes, no country is perfect, but is it any coincidence that we don’t get these sorts of questions when we go to Silverstone, Spa or Monaco? Or Canada, Japan or Australia?

[bathurst77]

Australia had plenty of questions to answer about its treatment of refugees and treatment of indigenous People.

[bella]

Originally Posted by S griffin

So the fact I didn’t mention Baku means my point is invalid? Ridiculous logic. FWIW I haven’t been thrilled with F1 going there either.

And yes, no country is perfect, but is it any coincidence that we don’t get these sorts of questions when we go to Silverstone, Spa or Monaco? Or Canada, Japan or Australia?

ah you know what, i wrote this long winded paragraph detailing how each of those countries has massive elephants in each of their rooms that they need to address but i can't figure out whether you're demanding we shame countries for their behaviour more or less.

it's virtue signalling, simple as that. you've not done the absolute basic research to know that f1 is stuck between a rock and a hard place and can't condemn nor endorse the missile attacks without putting themself in a very difficult position. i suspect the drivers were told exactly that and it's why the weekend will continue. this isn't ukraine.

again, the sport needs diplomats and academics on their advisory panels and stat because it's clear they're wading in murky territory that they don't understand well enough.

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Australia had plenty of questions to answer about its treatment of refugees and treatment of indigenous People.

thank you, this was exactly the path i was going down, similarly with canada and their treatment of native communities. the only thing all those countries had in common is that they were majority white and asian.

[Mike Harte]

I doubt that there is one country (apart from possibly Monaco) that the F1 circus visits that doesn't have some skeletons in their cupboards.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by bella

similarly with canada and their treatment of native communities. the only thing all those countries had in common is that they were majority white and asian.

sadly true. our shortcomings as a society are also both historical and ongoing. US as well.

in terms of ongoing conflicts though, the level of violence, corruption, collateral damage, and death count, how does the drug war in Mexico rank among reasons to avoid other GP host nations?

this is not to say i think it doesnt matter where F1 goes. my concern beyond the immediate safety of the circus and fans is that this conflict in Saudi will only escalate until the regime falls. they wont be able to quell this rebellion as the Kingdome only seems capable of fueling it more.

this will be an annual issue with an ever increasing risk of violence being directed towards the F1 event.

actually surprised travel advisories havent been issued to limit non essential travel imo. Canada seems to only have a warning to avoid travel within 80 miles of the Yemen border. clearly the reach of the rebels is further then 80 miles now.

[Mike Harte]

I think that the word OIL answers many of your questions, Chilli. Also possibly arms sales.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I doubt that there is one country (apart from possibly Monaco) that the F1 circus visits that doesn't have some skeletons in their cupboards.

Really? Even monaco has skeletons with all the money hidden there

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by bella

the world is not black and white, nothing is clear cut, especially not as clear cut as the f1 fandom makes it.

Agree with this. Things like this fit on a scale. Probably multidimensional as well. But let's make it one dimensional and focus on just safety. I would argue that if an active conflict is as close as it currently is to the circuit, that proceeding would be questionable. Even if the circuit is not a target. My 2 cents is continue this weekend, but if nothing is substantial different going into next year, the race should be removed from the schedule.

Richard

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I think that the word OIL answers many of your questions, Chilli. Also possibly arms sales.

for Canada, while given we dont use much Saudi oil, we do benefit greatly (and possibly illegally) from arms sales and other investments funded by said oil.

also given the proximity to Mecca and with Ramadan, i believe starting soon, i suspect there would be even more challenges from issuing new travel bans or extending current ones as many Canadians have already begun their preparations to travel...and no doubt further complicated by covid restrictions lessening and an increase in demand to travel.

and of course every nation contending with similar issues and hesitancy in warning about travel.

multidimensional indeed.

[Lancsbreaker]

Back to track action from politics, FP3 closes with Leclerc just topping the table again, by 0.03 sec from Max, with Perex, Sainz and Bottas (!) next up, all within 0.3 of Leclerc. Hamilton 11th, just within the second slower than Leclerc....


2 hours until Qualy....tho it'll be longer for me as I'll wait until I watch C4 coverage

[Beau2]

Let's be honest here - if there was a terrorist attack 10 miles away from Silverstone on race weekend then the race would not go ahead. Especially if the target of such an attack was the main sponsor of the event.

[S griffin]

Every country has it’s problems, but most of them are small beer compared to what others have to deal with. I feel privileged to live in a country where we can speak out against the government, wear what we like within reason and love who we want without being prosecuted.

F1 has to tread very carefully. 10 years ago it got a lot of bad publicity for not cancelling Bahrain, made worse by Bernie’s stupid attempts to justify going there. I just hope nothing bad happens for the rest of the weekend, but F1 might need to have a long hard think afterwards about whether to go back

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by courageous

They raced in Bahrain despite the protests, They travelled all the way to Australia despite a global pandemic clearly on everyone's doorstep...
F1 won't make the sensible decision until/unless it is the only choice left

In 2011 the Bahrain GP was cancelled due to protests, which were inspired by the unrest of the 2011 Arab Spring and the Australian GP was cancelled in 2020 and '21 due to Covid.

[bella]

Originally Posted by Beau2

Let's be honest here - if there was a terrorist attack 10 miles away from Silverstone on race weekend then the race would not go ahead. Especially if the target of such an attack was the main sponsor of the event.

see: the london 7/7 attacks. literally on the eve of the event.

[Beau2]

Originally Posted by bella

see: the london 7/7 attacks. literally on the eve of the event.

Except Silverstone is 70 miles from central London and with most teams and links based far closer to Silverstone than London. If 7/7 had occurred at Milton Keynes, Buckingham or Brackley then it would be an equal comparison.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Q1 red flagged, as Latifi goes into the wall at Turn 13.

[chillibowl]

perhaps harsh to say, but Mazepin's removal really exposing Latifi as the least capable!

[chillibowl]

wow Lewis out in q3!

retire mate its over!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Hamilton to start 16th.

[Beau2]

That's extraordinarily poor from Hamilton. Ok, the car isn't the best but his team mate is so much quicker.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Does the Hamilton excuse book cover missing out on Q2?