Although the team bosses quickly won the race from the F1 leaders after being offered security guarantees by the Saudi authorities, the drivers were not so easily persuaded as the talks with them lasted until the early hours of Saturday morning. In the end, the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) collectively agreed that they would take part in the qualifiers and the race following promises made to them for safety at the event. However, while the teams remain convinced that continuing with the Saudi Arabian GP this weekend is the right one, some believe that discussions should be held with the F1 leaders afterwards as to whether or not they will continue in the country with the right one. Williams team manager Jost Capito said: “We are not responsible for the calendar, but the situation here is many years. “I think there was a rocket attack during the FE match at the beginning of last year, and there was no concern that I would come here at the end of last year. So the situation for this weekend has not changed at all. . “I think the discussion should have taken place before. And now it will take place afterwards, but not during the event. If we have the confirmation that there is security, then we are safe.” Haas boss Gunther Steiner said: “This is not the time to discuss whether it’s right or wrong to be here. I think it will be done in the future and it will be discussed. It will be done. “But I think right now, we have to focus on this weekend and bring it to an end and then start fresh again.” Mattia Binotto, Team Principal, Ferrari, Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren, Mario Isola, Racing Manager, Pirelli Motorsport, at the press conference Photo: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images Aston Martin CEO Mike Krack added: “Sure, there will be a lot of discussion after this. But again, I can only repeat. It’s not the teams that make the diary. “It is the FIA ​​and F1 that make the calendar. And obviously we will give an opinion if we are asked and then move on.” McLaren team leader Andreas Seidl insisted, however, that F1 needed to visit places like Saudi Arabia to help it function as a force for good. Asked by Motorsport.com if F1’s financial benefits from hosting the race outweighed the criticism of the sport over the weekend, Seidl said: “To be honest, for me this is not the case. . “I feel comfortable being part of Formula 1 as a world sport, being part of a team and having the opportunity to really help make a difference in the countries we go to, where, for example, there are different cultures. “This is the meaning of this debate for me and I think we should also not shy away from these countries because of the criticism we receive. “I see the unique opportunity we have as a sport to share this passion for Formula 1 and also to drive this positive change. And not only for the economy, for example, for the country, but also for the positive change in society. “That’s why, again, I said before I felt comfortable with the Formula 1 decision on racing.” Read also: Ferrari team manager Mattia Binotto said that while there were concerns in the paddock after Friday’s attack, he did not think it would be right for F1 to pack up and leave. “We were all worried, because it is not normal for things to happen near the circuit,” he said. “We as a team have received assurances from F1, from the Saudi government and security services that everything would be safe under their control. I think it should have been explained to the drivers. “We explained the situation to them and made them understand that, in fact, we are safe and secure. And I think after these long discussions, which are important to be done in a transparent way, they just understood and supported the fact that it is important to stay, stay and go on the weekend and drive here in Saudi Arabia for the weekend. “In a way, I think leaving the country would not be just the right choice. And I do not think there was a good reason, here I am, to leave the country with the assurances we got.”