Saudi Arabia says it can host two races this season
Jul.27 - Saudi Arabia has put up its hand as a potential alternate Formula 1 venue in the covid-marred 2021 season.
The first-ever Jeddah street race is already scheduled to take place in early December - just a fortnight after the re-scheduled and now cancelled Australian GP was due to happen.
Qatar and Bahrain have indicated that they could step in, but it may make more sense for Formula 1 to simply do a back-to-back double in Saudi Arabia instead.
"We have not yet received a request from Formula 1 to organise a second race, but we are perfectly on track with our preparations," Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal, a Saudi royal and provincial governor, is quoted by the Belgian news agency Sporza.
Some may scold F1 for considering a second race in Saudi Arabia, where the kingdom has been accused of using Formula 1 to 'sportswash' human rights abuses.
But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali plays down those concerns.
"We believe in going to certain countries that are showing that they want to change in the future," he told GQ magazine.
"We also don't want to be involved in politics. Instead of talking about the negative things, we should be discussing the positive things that F1 can make happen."
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Stef' D: "We believe in going to certain countries that are showing that they want to change in the future," he told GQ magazine.
No place for politics in F1, but let's see a list of Saudi social changes...none. Wait, I'm wrong, women are allowed to drive now. They're driving Jaxis all over Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has said that any people travelling to red zones will be banned from travelling for 3 years & other dire threats. I had screenshot their statement but can't attach it here. Doesn't sound to me that they want to change.
Even the Jax has moved there and dresses in womens clothing for his shifts.
Cleverly worded statement, come on Holiday but commit a simple crime and your for the chop literally, ask the Khashoggi family .
Trust an Arab.... i prefer not to if its all the same