Saudi Arabia to host F1 Grand Prix for first time next season despite human rights record

Saudi Arabia will host a Formula One Grand Prix for the first time next season despite calls for the sport to boycott the Arab state, it has been announced.

F1 revealed the news on Thursday afternoon, which confirms recent reports that Saudi Arabia was set to become the latest new country to feature on the calendar after the recent additions of Vietnam and Azerbaijan and the return of the Netherlands.

It is slated to host the penultimate round of the 2021 calendar in November, ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but has been met with an immediate backlash due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record with the country accused of ‘sportswashing’ to improve its reputation a number of times in the last few years.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has already called on F1 drivers to criticise the awarding of a global event to Saudi Arabia. The race will follow similar events in other sports such as boxing, tennis, golf and horse racing, which have all taken place in Saudi Arabia in recent years.

Formula E has staged an event in Riyadh for the last two years, while Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title rematch against Andy Ruiz last December in the city of Diriyah. In July this year, a proposed takeover of football club Newcastle United collapsed after the Premier League failed to reach a decision following 17 weeks of assessing the bid, which was backed by the government’s Public Investment Fund.

“A Saudi Grand Prix in 2021 is just part of extensive ongoing efforts by the Saudi authorities to sportswash their abysmal human rights record,” Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s head of campaigns, said.

“With critics of the government either jailed, exiled or hounded into silence, the Saudi authorities have pursued a twin-track approach of crushing human rights while throwing large amounts of money at glittering sporting events.

“It isn’t just motor racing - it’s golf, boxing, tennis, horse racing and of course the attempt to buy Newcastle United Football Club.”

The nation has also been heavily criticised for its treatment of women, who were only legally allowed to drive in 2018.

“The bitter irony over a Saudi Grand Prix is that the very people who fought for the rights of Saudi women to be able to drive are now themselves languishing in jail - brave people like Loujain al-Hathloul and Nassima al-Sada,” Amnesty added.

“Presuming this race now goes ahead, Formula One should insist that all contracts contain stringent labour standards across all supply chains, and that all race events are open to everyone without discrimination.

“In the lead-up to the race, we’re saying to F1 drivers, owners and teams - they should brief themselves on the dire human rights situation in the country and be prepared to speak out about the plight of Loujain, Nassima and others.”

In response, a spokesperson for F1 said: "For decades Formula One has worked hard to be a positive force everywhere it races, including economic, social, and cultural benefits.

"Sports like Formula One are uniquely positioned to cross borders and cultures to bring countries and communities together to share the passion and excitement of incredible competition and achievement.

"We take our responsibilities very seriously and have made our position on human rights and other issues clear to all our partners and host countries who commit to respect human rights in the way their events are hosted and delivered."

F1 was due to stage 22 races on the 2020 calendar - the most in the sport’s 70-year history - until the coronavirus pandemic delayed the start of the season and caused a number of venues to drop off the calendar. Australia, Vietnam, China, the Netherlands, Monaco, Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Singapore, Japan, the US, Mexico and Brazil were all unable to take up their place on the calendar, resulting in a re-arranged 17-race season that has featured entirely within Europe so far this season, with two races in Bahrain and one in Abu Dhabi the only upcoming events outside of the continent.

The night race, which is set to be staged on the streets of capital city Jeddah, will result in a 23-race calendar in 2021, and it’s expected that the event will switch to Qiddiyah in 2023, where a permanent purpose-built track is currently under construction.

In a statement, outgoing F1 chairman and chief executive Chase Carey said: “We are excited to welcome Saudi Arabia to Formula 1 for the 2021 season and welcome their announcement following speculation in recent days.

“Saudi Arabia is a country that is rapidly becoming a hub for sports and entertainment with many major events taking place there in recent years and we are very pleased that Formula 1 will be racing there from next season.

“The region is hugely important to us and with 70 per cent of the population of Saudi being under 30 we are excited about the potential to reach new fans and bring our existing fans around the world exciting racing from an incredible and historic location. We will be publishing our full provisional 2021 calendar in the coming weeks and this will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for approval.”