The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is expected to go ahead as planned after hours of meetings following a missile attack near the track in Jeddah.

The drivers spent four hours after practice on Friday discussing whether the race should be run.

But eventually at 2.30 am local time on Saturday, after further reassurances from bosses, they agreed to race.

After an extraordinary series of events, team bosses emerged from the meetings to say: "We will be racing."

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on an oil depot about nine miles from the track, according to the Associated Press.

The second practice was delayed by 15 minutes after the attack as team bosses and drivers were called to a meeting with F1 president Stefano Domenicali.

The drivers went into a meeting with Domenicali and managing director Ross Brawn about an hour after the end of practice and that meeting did not end for another four hours, as various senior figures came and went.

BBC Sport has learned that a significant number of drivers had concerns about the safety of the event following the attack.

But eventually, they were convinced to go ahead and race after being given further information by bosses.

Part of this information involved the possible consequences of not racing, such as how easily teams and drivers would be able to leave the country if the race did not happen.

The first signs of the attack came as the smoke had billowed across the track during the first practice session in the afternoon.

Before second practice, Domenicali called teams and drivers to a meeting and told them the weekend would proceed as planned and that security for the grand prix has been a priority for the authorities.

He said he would keep them updated through the weekend and met them again just over an hour after practice finished to share further information.

But the drivers continued to be concerned about the potential risks of racing so close to a missile strike on a high-profile Saudi facility. The Grand Prix is also closely associated with the Saudi royal family.

All the drivers' post-practice media sessions were cancelled.

F1 said after practice had finished but before the drivers went into their marathon meeting: "Formula 1 has been in close contact with the relevant authorities following the situation that took place today.

"The authorities have confirmed that the event can continue as planned and we will remain in close contact with them and all the teams and closely monitor the situation."

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of F1's governing body the FIA, said: "They are targeting the infrastructure, not the civilians, and, of course, not the track. We've checked the facts and we've got assurances from the highest level that this is a secure place. Let's go on racing."

There was a similar attack a week before the race, while F1 was at the opening event of the season in Bahrain.

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