Missiles arrived at Formula One's front door on Friday, smoke billowing out across the Jeddah circuit during practice for the £50million Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
But despite the attack on the state-owned Aramco oil refinery 12 miles east, timed to coincide with the Grand Prix according to many, the sport's rulers insisted Sunday's race would go ahead as planned.
A giant plume of dark smoke filled the air at about 5.45pm as the attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels hit its target. World champion Max Verstappen reported to his Red Bull team over the radio as first practice drew towards a close: 'I smell a bit of burning. I am not sure if it is my car, or another car.'
Max Verstappen asked if his Formula One car was on fire after smelling smoke from a big blaze just 12 miles from the Jeddah circuit in Friday practice ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
The fire was at an Aramco oil depot near Jeddah - Yemeni terrorists have claimed they launched a missile strike, causing the blaze - and comes days after another depot was attacked
World champion Verstappen said he smelt a 'burning feeling' as smoke billowed over the track
The 24-year-old Dutchman was assured by engineer Gianpiero Lambiase that it was not his car
However, Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali decided not to cancel the lucrative race.
After the second of two crisis meetings finished at 10.40pm local time, the Italian said: 'We've had a discussion with the drivers and team principals together with the Saudi authorities and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, and the governor of Jeddah.
'We have received total assurance that the country's safety is first. No matter the situation, safety has to be guaranteed.
'They are here with their families, actually here at the track, so they have in place the systems to protect this area, the city and the places where we are
