Saudi Arabia rocked by explosion just 6 miles from F1 track as Verstappen ‘smells burning’

There has been an explosion in close proximity to the Jeddah track which is hosting Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Fire and thick black smoke could be seen from the track on Friday afternoon during the first practice session.

The incident has clearly worried some drivers. “I can smell burning – is it my car,” a concerned Max Verstappen told Red Bull chiefs over his radio in the aftermath of the explosion.

Meanwhile, F1 chiefs confirmed they were waiting for further infomation about what had happened. “The position at the moment is that we are waiting for further information from the authorities on what has happened,” read a statement from F1.

The second race of the 2022 F1 season is set to go ahead on Sunday following Charles Leclerc’s victory in Bahrain last weekend. And drivers took to their cars on Friday for P1 ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.

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