Black eyes and Middle Eastern flavor. Nothing more specific to describe a weekend in Arabia, overwhelmed by what happened on and off the track. Three days that made us reflect, fear and have fun, and which end with a shared consideration with full marks: Jeddah is a track that offers entertainment, but racing in these conditions is impossible.
BLACK FRIDAY
Already during the practice sessions, the air was not exactly calm. The attack by a Yemeni terrorist group on an oil plant was certainly not the perfect dawn for a return to racing. An episode that led to a domino of controversies, which we are not even going to rattle off, but which have left everyone with a certain feeling of inconsistency. How is it possible to race in a country that explodes bombs 20 km from the circuit? The two weights, two measures adopted between Arabia and Russia certainly did not put the FIA in a good light. And even if it is right to consider two completely different discourses, it is not possible to put the pilots in danger.
SATURDAY OF THE VILLAGE
If in Leopardi's famous poem the cheerfulness of the village is mentioned while waiting for the festive Sunday, the same could be said for the yes, but interminable, wait of the enthusiasts for the arrival of the race on Sunday. An eternal wait, seasoned abundantly by a qualifying session which highlighted all the problems of a spectacular track, but which turns into a real trap. Two red flags, understandable given the only two escape routes, and an accident that left us in suspense for eternal moments.
And let's face it, if Mick got out of his single-seater unscathed, it's only thanks to an excellent job by those who have raised the safety level in Formula 1. Certainly not thanks to a track that at those speeds, and with walls a few meters away , it only risks becoming a roulette wheel. Once again a lot of entertainment, but completely inadequate driving conditions. If we then add that to solve the problems some operators on quads or a lorry leaking oil enter the track, well... we're not there.
COMA SUNDAY
For the faint of heart this Formula 1 is definitely not recommended. The race is a succession of overtaking, counter-overtaking and twists and turns. The circuit takes its toll, placing those who make even the smallest mistake against the wall. The teams make their own, with still many reliability problems. In the end, 13 arrive. The usual devils Leclerc and Verstappen take care of putting the icing on the cake, who beat each other up on the track, clarifying more and more, that it will be a world championship on the wire. Pass the management of the Virtual SCs, completely wrong, the race is a show and underlines the charm of this new era of single-seaters. Ingredients that are a panacea for those who want to love this sport again, but which, if they really intend to approach the young public, need consistency, lack of hypocrisy and guarantees for the riders. The spectacle that Jeddah can offer is indisputable, but the risks are evident and must be contained. Because it's true, as many say that "Motorsport is dangerous!", but there is an abyss between dangerousness and stupidity. And continuing to do nothing to guarantee security, allow us, definitely belongs more to the second category.
