F1 continues racing despite nearby fire following an attack

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Auto Racing Writer

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Despite a raging fire at a nearby oil depot following an attack, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has maintained business as usual. The Formula One race on Sunday is also expected to go ahead. But meetings dragged on in the paddock late into the night between F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, team principals and drivers. The drivers were still talking with each other by 1 a.m. local time. Yemen’s Houthis rebels have acknowledged they launched attacks on the kingdom. Saudi Arabia state TV says there was a “hostile operation” that targeted the Jiddah oil depot, which erupted in flames during the first practice about 11 kilometers from the F1 circuit. Despite this, the second practice was delayed by just 15 minutes following an earlier meeting.