Saudi Arabia added to 2021 calender

[TheDeuce]

MB140 said:

RobGT81 said:

Everyone is perfectly happy with Russia, China and Turkey. But Saudi Arabia, cue the faux outrage! Hamilton will take a knee and it will all be fine.

It will be fine as you say. Doesn’t make it right though

Not right to go there? Why?

[Piginapoke]

TheDeuce said:

Not right to go there? Why?

Because it's an implicit acceptance of a non elected regime with gross human rights abuses against its own population?

[TheDeuce]

Piginapoke said:

TheDeuce said:

Not right to go there? Why?

Because it's an implicit acceptance of a non elected regime with gross human rights abuses against its own population?

And how do these things ever change...? Mingling of cultures - it's been that way for the last 8000 years of recorded history. You can either criticise from a safe distance, or head over and mingle - if your way is better, bit by bit they will take from it.

Changes are already happening, mostly due to the internet and it's effect on how young people view the wider world. If they call for more from the west, be bold! Send it.

[Piginapoke]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You think basic human rights are dependent on the weather?

[Teddy Lop]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

yes. clearly these things are that simple.

[ch37]

The relative merits of them holding the race are a bit heavy for me on a Friday night. On to important matters, there is a lot to unpack here, what have I missed?

1. Rollercoaster that goes nowhere
2. The fascinating mix of F1 car eras
3. The run off with trees and bushes in it
4. The lack of fencing or tyre barriers
5. The pedestrian bridge without viewing restrictions
6. Interesting place for a DRS zone

[Schermerhorn]

I, too, used to view Saudi with a certain level of bias but over time you come to realise that people are people and have more in common with you than you think and are not always an extension of their governments.

Saudi is somewhere I would genuinely like to visit one day.

Here is a little taster of it....

https://youtu.be/1k0SvAEvM-I

https://youtu.be/iWAyrGZEXhw

https://youtu.be/VRTk7LKrTNw

https://youtu.be/6iWFB7Qvers

https://youtu.be/KmwIycBOD7c

https://youtu.be/AuTOScUbC3o

https://youtu.be/RaUjXoe8GmA

https://youtu.be/pkiQ0BIeHh4

Backwards? I definately don't think so!

[Eric Mc]

faa77 said:

So now F1 will just race wherever the most money is offered?

That'll make it great........ not

What do you mean "now"?

[Eric Mc]

RobGT81 said:

Everyone is perfectly happy with Russia, China and Turkey.

Really?

[Eric Mc]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

And what exactly is your connection with Saudi Arabia? You seem to be a bit of a champion for it as a country.

[Exige77]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Surely trolling again.

Everything is great for Saudi citizens right up to the point of doing something the dictatorship doesn’t like. Then you don't have any basic Human rights. Not even the dictatorships own family.

Just watch the news and see how much criticism western democratic governments get here.

That is the difference which you fail to grasp.

[TheDeuce]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I would hope none of them have given that they're arguing F1 shouldn't go there out of principle!

[Sandpit Steve]

A good piece on this subject, from F1 journo Joe Saward:
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2020/11/06/good-gu...

[Exige77]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I’ve been all over the Middle East and do business with normal Saudi people.

If you compare somewhere like Oman and Saudi (neighbours) there’s a huge difference how regular citizens “view” the ruling family.

Just going on holiday somewhere doesn’t tell the whole story. Everything’s lovely on holiday

[kevinon]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I think it's less simple.

Some don't read the news and have no idea about anything bar their own wants. (Cheap holidays, 6 star hotels ! servants !)
Some read the news about an authoritarian regime and feel that they can influence things by going there and spending money.
And some read the news and make a principled decision not to engage because they feel they are doing PR for the regime.

I think it's clear cut for states like apartheid South Africa - who with any conscience would have gone there for a cheap holiday? - but like many things in life there's shades of grey (no pun intended)

[kevinon]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I think it's less simple.

Some don't read the news and have no idea about anything bar their own wants. (Cheap holidays, 6 star hotels ! servants !)
Some read the news about an authoritarian regime and feel that they can influence things by going there and spending money.
And some read the news and make a principled decision not to engage because they feel they are doing PR for the regime.

I think it's clear cut for states like apartheid South Africa - who with any conscience would have gone there for a cheap holiday? - but like many things in life, apart from the extremes, there's shades of grey (no pun intended)

[TheDeuce]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

So you agree that F1 should go there I assume?

[Schermerhorn]

Hold up

Why are we up in arms about going to Saudi, but we never this rhetoric about Bahrain (have we all forgotten about the Arab Spring out there?) or China or Brazil or Mexico?

Why are we pretending to care about Saudi's human rights record but ignoring other nations who have committed violations too?

F1 will prostitute itself to the highest bidder and THEN take the moral stance after the cheque has cleared.

[768]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's batst. The Bedouin aren't going to get far shaking a carpet at a fast jet.

That said, I'm all for F1 going there, take their money, leave a little of our culture. If they don't go it won't make any difference to the average person.

[FourWheelDrift]

Schermerhorn said:

Hold up

Why are we up in arms about going to Saudi, but we never this rhetoric about Bahrain (have we all forgotten about the Arab Spring out there?) or China or Brazil or Mexico?

Why are we pretending to care about Saudi's human rights record but ignoring other nations who have committed violations too?

F1 will prostitute itself to the highest bidder and THEN take the moral stance after the cheque has cleared.

Who says we haven't been? This is about the Saudi Arabian GP because this is the Saudi Arabia thread.