Since Jeddah was introduced into the race calendar for 2021, there have been some high profile words of disapproval for the event.
The controversy and outcry against the race in Saudi Arabi reached its peak earlier this season when the sky was filled with smoke on the race weekend following a missile attack on an oil facility a mere seven miles away from the racetrack.
Although the drivers did have a meeting to discuss whether the event should go ahead, the weekend did continue as planned with Lewis Hamilton being very outspoken about his thoughts on the Jeddah Grand Prix.
After completing this year’s race, the seven-time world champion was quoted as saying, “I’m so happy the weekend is done and I’m happy that everyone is safe.
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“I’m just looking forward to getting out,” he concluded.
Despite one of the biggest names in the history of the sport speaking against the Grand Prix, it now seems a possibility that not only will Saudi Arabia continue to have a Grand Prix on the calendar, it might get a second.
“We really see the benefits of having these event for the Kingdom,” said the country’s sport minister, Bin Turki Al-Faisal.
“And that’s why we’re investing so much.”
Jeddah was always seen as a temporary race on a calendar until the state of the art Qiddiya project is completed in the next couple of years. However, Al-Faisal says it would be difficult to say no to both races being on the calendar.
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“We definitely could host two races already for that. But I think that’s something we have to discuss with F1 and see how it goes. But we definitely would love to have that.”
With races in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain being held in recent years, it seems inevitable that Middle Eastern races are here to stay despite the obvious negative opinions of some of those involved in the sport.
The safety of those involved in F1 remains the priority and hopefully the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix can prosper in the years to come and become one of the many iconic tracks we all look on so fondly.