The endless summit of pilots that did not change anything: "Tomorrow more"

• F1 Missile attack on Jeddah in the middle of the Saudi Arabian GP

• Free practice 1 Alpine, forced to change Alonso's engine

More than

in the same room, behind a glass that isolated them, barely, from the curiosity of the journalists.

More than four hours to decide if the Saudi Arabian GP is still standing today, threatened by missiles from

.

More than four hours for a decision, among 20 pilots, which took place, in a somewhat

way , at 2:19 in the morning in Jeddah.

At that time, the great stars of F1 finally paraded through the

, leaving behind a trail of mystery.

To figure out what had happened, better read between the lines.

's farewell :

"Tomorrow more."

When the Spaniard finally crossed the exit lathes, with the serious rictus, typical of an exhausting day, he still kept his word not to leak anything that happened.

Nor did

who still took five more minutes, leaving almost arm in arm with

Right there, although in the opposite direction,

head of

crossed paths with

his counterpart at

"

", exclaimed the British, with a warm tone.

And that tomorrow is already today.

And today at five in the afternoon, local time, the last free session will be held at the

It is then possible to ask the reason for so much commotion.

Or the content of that endless summit of the pilots, which started shortly before 10 at night in an environment that did not presage the subsequent events.

So, that seemed like the bland epilogue to the impromptu press conference where

executive director of F1 and

president of the

had advanced, with total emphatic, their desire to continue with the

According to both, the Saudi royal family, headed by Crown Prince

had everything under control.

To that reassuring message one should add the powerful persuasion of money.

Because of the more than

disbursed each year by the Saudi monarchy, half comes from

the world's largest oil company.

The same whose refineries received the impacts of missiles from the Houthi rebels.

Since March 2020, when it became title sponsor, Aramco's link to F1 is more than just a business deal.

However, some pilots did not sit too well with the firmness shown by the business owners.

And his initial approaches, with the group gathered in a circle, evolved from calm to irritation.

recently elected as director of the

soon took the floor.

Some youngsters, like

soon seconded him.

The atmosphere was heating up, while

sitting at a table with his back to the door next to

began to gain prominence.

Nerves began to spread meters below, through the offices and team garages.

And it became evident with the constant movement of the directors, who entered and left the scene, trying to act as mediators.

One of the most heard voices was that of

head of

escorted by another guy with very clear ideas, like

The unity of the pilots, in any case, collided with the usual private interests.

Among other reasons because the interest of the men from

and Red Bull for Sunday's race, where they should return to dominate on the asphalt, seemed much higher than that of Mercedes or McLaren, with notorious problems since the preseason in Barcelona.

At almost two in the morning, the television cameras were suffering from the limit of their batteries, while the mechanics quickened their pace with ironic smiles, satisfied that, for once, they were not the last to leave for the hotel.

Neither

nor Alonso's closest circle found a way to kill time.

Nor

who left his son in there before going through the exit turnstiles with a weary gesture.

Although nothing as intense as the scarce 50 meters that separated the F1

with the FIA ​​headquarters.

The team leaders subscribed to that short journey, usually with

Ferrari

reporter ,

with the best material available for the next season of

, put the spotlight on any of the corners.

Even overcoming the human shields the organization was trying to put up.

At 2:19, after an exhausting wait,

even without paying any attention to the microphones.

In the direction of the FIA ​​offices, Russell set off.

And

was quick to comment on his social networks that he felt "ready and absolutely focused" on today's classification.

He will be under the spotlight, at 8:00 p.m. (two less in mainland Spain).

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