"The authorities have confirmed that the event can continue as planned," said the championship promoter, Formula 1, in a press release issued a few minutes after free practice 2, dominated by Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

The attack on the oil site in Jeddah, which is among 16 claimed by the Houthis on Friday, caused a gigantic fire and a cloud of black smoke visible from the circuit during free practice 1 at 5:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. French).

The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) even asked his team by radio: "I smell a burning smell, is that my car?".

Already the fastest in free practice 1 in 1 min 30 sec 772/1000, Leclerc, winner of the inaugural GP in Bahrain last week, took his time to 1 min 30 sec 074/1000 once night fell, in the conditions qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

Formula 1: Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Kenan AUGEARD AFP

Problem solved at Red Bull

He beat the defending champion, Verstappen, by 140/1000, his own Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz Jr by 246/1000 and the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) by 286/1000.

These three were, however, fitted with medium tires against soft tires, which were faster over one lap, for the Monegasque.

Leclerc and Sainz both cut their second session short after approaching the safety walls a little too close, damaging their cars.

The Mercedes of Britons Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, also on soft tyres, followed in 5th and 6th positions at 439 and 590/1000 respectively from the fastest.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during the second free practice session of the Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah, March 25, 2022 ANDREJ ISAKOVIC AFP

On the side of Red Bull, it was announced in the morning that they had resolved the problem which caused the double abandonment of Verstappen and Pérez last week in Bahrain.

“We were able to reproduce at the factory what happened: a combination of factors created a vacuum” preventing the pumps from sucking the fuel and delivering it to the engine, explained Team Principal Christian Horner to l AFP.

“We have solutions in place which I hope will remedy this.”

At Mercedes, we are trying to overcome the lack of stability of the two single-seaters to catch up with the level of performance of the Ferraris and the Red Bulls.

"A huge amount of work has been done over the last three days," said Hamilton.

"We are aware of our problems, we are working on what is causing them to see how to fix them without losing performance and then ultimately gaining some. But three days between two races is such a short period that it is not There won't be a huge difference this weekend. But hopefully we'll have things to try."

"Have a positive influence"

The German Nico Hülkenberg, he still replaces his compatriot Sebastian Vettel, tested positive for Covid-19 last week, at Aston Martin.

Vettel is set to make his return at the next round in Australia from April 8-10.

The arrival of F1 in Saudi Arabia last year is part of a campaign to develop "sports tourism" in the country, to diversify its oil economy and improve its image.

Monegasque Charles Leclerc at the wheel of his Ferrari leads free practice 2 of the Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah on March 25, 2022 ANDREJ ISAKOVIC AFP

Its critics accuse the kingdom of "sportwashing", that is to say of using these events to make people forget its human rights failures, while it has multiplied the executions of death row prisoners since the beginning of 2022.

The pilots are "aware of the problems", answers the Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren).

But "I think by coming here we also have a chance to create change or have a positive influence."

"Being brought here is not our responsibility but we try to do what we can, and I think it's important that we just try to inform ourselves," Hamilton added.

"At the end of the day, it's the responsibility of those in power to make changes and we don't really see that. So we need to see more."

© 2022 AFP