Dilemma between morality and millions

At the start of training for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, a tank farm belonging to Formula 1’s main sponsor, Aramco, exploded. The racing series should think twice before risking being the target of a terrorist attack again.

A fuel depot belonging to Formula 1 main sponsor Aramco exploded near the track in Jidda.

Carl Bingham / Imago

Euphoria and horror were only five days apart in Formula 1 recently. The party atmosphere from the successful start of the season in Bahrain evaporated in Saudi Arabia at the start of practice after a tank farm just 20 kilometers from the race track in Jidda was detonated by a missile drone.

The cloud of smoke from the burning out refinery, which belongs to Formula 1’s main sponsor Aramco, could still be seen at the weekend. With the attack, the Houthi rebels from Yemen are pursuing a similar goal to that of the Saudi government with its guest appearance in the premier class of motorsport: they want to gain attention.

Raging propaganda column

The events of Yidda dramatically illustrate the dilemma that Formula 1 has maneuvered itself into as it continues to expand into the Arab world: between morality and millions. The Russian Grand Prix was removed from the World Championship calendar the day after the invasion of Ukraine. But the matter with the Arab hosts is more difficult, with a withdrawal, Formula 1 would immediately face huge losses. Five circuits in the Middle East each pay between 50 and 70 million dollars – per race, of course. European organizers can no longer keep up. But if you want to distribute one billion in prize money to the racing teams every year, you also have to make sure that the cash register is right.

That’s why five races in a row have been held in the Gulf region since November. The Qatari have signed a contract until 2033, in Bahrain it is to be driven until 2036 – it is the longest contract term in the history of Formula 1. The trend towards long-term contracts led the “kicker” in his special issue to the heading “cheating advertising”. Formula 1 as a frenzied propaganda column.

The Saudi Minister of Sport, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, already regards his country as the “home of motorsport in the region”; Major sporting events would help on the way to opening up. But the message sounds dull after the attack. Many only see the notorious “sportswashing” in the expansion anyway. Human Rights Watch criticizes this sharply: “Saudi Arabia has repeatedly used prominent personalities and major international events to distract attention from its human rights violations.” 81 people were executed shortly before the arrival of the Formula 1 entourage.

The attack and the fear in the paddock present Formula 1 manager Stefano Domenicali with additional, difficult tasks. The Italian has always insisted that motorsport brings spotlight and will therefore also illuminate difficult conditions in host countries.

But on Friday night Domenicali became the crisis manager. At first the teams threatened a boycott, later there were two long meetings with the drivers, most of whom did not want to start. Only security guarantees from the Saudi government prevented the cancellation of the second race of the season. “It was a difficult day for Formula 1 and a grueling day for us drivers,” said the pilots’ union GPDA.

More fundamental questions

Unsurprisingly, the new President of the World Automobile Association presented himself as an advocate of the idea of ​​going through with the Grand Prix on the Red Sea, which was held for the first time only five months ago. Mohammed Ben Sulayem from the United Arab Emirates is determined to promote motorsport in his home region.

It doesn’t get any easier after these events. For this weekend, the intention that the show must go on might still apply. But Formula 1 has to ask itself more fundamentally whether a country that is at war with a neighbor and causes a humanitarian catastrophe that persecutes government critics or has them killed can be a permanent venue in the long term. Even if the dependency is great: Formula 1 must think twice before risking being the target of a terrorist attack again. Apart from the hosts and the accountants, she is doing no one any favors. It’s playing with fire.

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