Saudi Arabia Grand Prix scare with F1 bosses ‘monitoring situation’ after missile attacks Jeddah just a week before race

FORMULA ONE chiefs are monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia after a petroleum depot was attacked by rebels.

The sport heads to Jeddah next for the second race of the season where the Aramco fuel plant was hit.

ReutersThe Saudi Arabia Grand Prix follows just a week after Bahrain[/caption]

Reuters reported that the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it had intercepted and destroyed a “hostile air target” which was aimed towards the Red Sea city of Jeddah, according to Saudi state media.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group had earlier attacked an Aramco distribution plant in Jeddah, after firing missiles and drones at Saudi energy and water desalination facilities in the southern Jizan region.

Al Arabiya English quoted a spokesman from The Arab Coalition, who said: “We destroyed 106 explosive-laden boats that posed a threat to the freedom of navigation in the southern Red Sea.”

The Arab Coalition also announced that Saudi Arabia’s Air Defence Forces had intercepted and destroyed nine drones.

The 2022 F1 season kicked off in Bahrain at the weekend as Charles Leclerc claimed victory for Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz made it a one-two for the Scuderia, with Lewis Hamilton rounding off the podium places with an impressive third following a difficult few days for Mercedes.

But it was a weekend to forget for pre-season favourites Red Bull.

Defending champion Max Verstappen was forced to retire with three laps remaining when a podium place looked a certainty.

An engine failure scuppered the Dutchman’s chances of securing points in the opening race.

And his team-mate Sergio Perez suffered a similar fate moments later.

The Mexican was under pressure from Hamilton as he looked to hang on to third place, but ended up spinning and also having to retire.