Huge fuss in the run-up to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia!

An explosion has occurred near the Jeddah racetrack. According to media reports, supporters of the Houthi rebels from Yemen have attacked a refinery belonging to the oil giant "Aramco" and destroyed parts. The result: A massive fire and a large cloud of smoke could also be seen.

The location of the fire is only 12 kilometers from the driver area.

Air traffic around the city is currently being diverted. You can see how airplanes turn around or make a wide arc on the flight radar around the city.

Operations at the racetrack have not been suspended for the time being. After the first practice session for the Formula 1 drivers, the Formula 2 cars drove onto the track as planned. The second training session for Lewis Hamilton (37) & Co. will also take place as planned. And that, although drivers like Sergio Perez are "terrified," as Red Bulls motorsport boss Helmut Marko (78) revealed on "Sky."

However, the employees went about their everyday activities in the driver compound. The only difference: Everywhere, it smells like burnt petrol.

The Houthis confirmed in the afternoon that they were responsible for the attack. A rebel spokesman said the oil plant in Jeddah had been attacked with drones with rockets and other refineries in Ras Tanura and Rabigh.

Saudi Arabian state television confirmed the attack and spoke of a "hostile operation."

Who are the Houthi rebels?

 Saudi Arabia and Iran, both vying for supremacy in Yemen, are waging a proxy war there: While Iran supports the Shiite Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia is leading a group of Sunni-leaning Gulf states in the fight against these insurgents. Saudi Arabia is thus supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi (76), which was driven out of the capital Sanaa by the Houthi rebels in 2014.

Race on Sunday could be canceled

Whether Formula 1 will maintain normal operations in the next few hours is an open question. The bosses of the premier class of motorsport are watching the situation closely. However, according to the English "The Sun," the race on Sunday could be canceled. The reason is the fear of attacks.

It would not be the Houthi's first attack during a motorsport event in Saudi Arabia. It was only at the end of February 2021 that a rocket attack by the rebels on the capital Riyadh was repelled when Formula E, the electric counterpart to Formula 1, held its first two races of the season there.