The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will go ahead this weekend despite an attack on an oil facility nearby.

A large amount of black smoke was visible from the track during the opening practice session of the race weekend after an oil depot east of the street circuit was in flames.

A military spokesman for Yemen's Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack with missiles on an Aramco facility in Jeddah.

The blaze was brought under control by the late evening, according to authorities.

The second practice session was delayed by 15 minutes after drivers and team principals met with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

The weekend would go ahead as planned after Domenicali gave an update on the situation.

He told them that security was a priority after a similar incident on an oil facility in Jeddah last week.

All 20 drivers took part in the second practice session and then went to a meeting with F1 team bosses and Domenicali later in the evening.

The meeting lasted 40 minutes and ended after 15 minutes in which all drivers and team bosses were present.

Domenicali told reporters after the meeting that safety has to be guaranteed.

They are at the track with their families. They have all the systems in place to protect this area. We have to trust the local authority because we feel confident. We will go ahead with the event.

We had meetings with high level security and then we had meetings with the team principals and the drivers.

Who are they targeting? They are not targeting the civilians but the infrastructure, the economic infrastructure and not the track.

We checked the facts from them and we have the assurance that this is a secure place, the whole thing will be secure and we can go on racing. All the families are here. We are only looking forward, but with an assurance that nothing will happen.

When Domenicali was asked if all the drivers were in agreement that the race should go ahead, he said they would be on track.

The decision to race on was agreed to by the Red Bull boss.

The sport has to stand together. The sport shouldn't be made to feel like that situation isn't acceptable.

Stefano and the president are dealing with it. We will be going racing and there have been assurances from the organizers.

Wolff said that the F1 circuit is the safest place to be in Saudi Arabia.

The smoke could be seen near the circuit during Friday's first practice session. ESPN

The promoter of the race, the Saudi Motorsport Company, confirmed the attack and said security had been raised to match the threat posed by the events.

The race organizers are in contact with the Saudi security authorities, as well as F1 and the FIA, to ensure all necessary security and safety.

The race weekend schedule will go on as planned. We look forward to welcoming fans for a weekend of premium racing and entertainment and the safety and security of all our guests is our main priority.

The governing body of F1 issued a statement regarding the delayed practice session.