Official: The Bahrain Grand Prix will take place as scheduled
The International Automobile Federation has decided to maintain the Bahrain Grand Prix on the scheduled date as it believes that "all appropriate security measures have been implemented" for this. The FIA also reveals that it has not received any request for cancellation or postponement from the teams and/or Bernie Ecclestone.
Even before the start of the free practice sessions for the Chinese Grand Prix, the FIA wished to clarify the future of the Bahrain Grand Prix by confirming the event’s retention on its original date next weekend: « Based on the information currently available to the FIA, we are confident that all appropriate security measures have been put in place for a Formula One World Championship event to be held in Bahrain. Therefore, the FIA confirms that the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will take place as scheduled » states the FIA in a communiqué, noting that no request for cancellation or postponement of the event had been made by the teams or Bernie Ecclestone.
For several weeks, the legitimacy of the Bahrain Grand Prix has been the subject of much discussion, with protesters unhesitatingly threatening to disrupt the event as recent demonstrations have been marked by security forces’ repression and the death of a ‘citizen journalist’. While the protesters fear that the Grand Prix will serve as a pretext for the authorities to legitimize the strengthening of coercive measures against them and to present an image of a pacified country to the world, the FIA has decided to side with local authorities who wish to make the event a unifying occasion.
While a meeting is scheduled for this Friday between Bernie Ecclestone and the teams, the Briton denied any connection to the situation in Bahrain on Thursday: « It has nothing to do with Bahrain or Barcelona, or Monaco or anywhere else. The race is on the calendar [and] unless it is canceled by the national sporting authorities of the country, we will be there. […] Normally, when we arrive in a country, we do not deal with religion or politics » says Ecclestone.
The Grand Argentier of F1 did not hesitate to make a comparison with China: “I don’t see the slightest difference between here and Bahrain. It’s the same thing. It’s another race on the calendar,” said the Briton, not without referring to criticisms that could be made about the non-respect of human rights in China. “I don’t see why it should be dangerous for us. I don’t think the people in Bahrain have anything against team staff or journalists. […] A guy from Lotus went there to check the situation and he said everything was perfect.” And Ecclestone added: “We will go there. If it were a pop singer, they would be there and they would sing.”
In its statement, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) reminds that it is the competent authority for establishing the calendar: « The FIA is the governing body of motor sports and therefore of Formula One. As such, it establishes the calendar after a proposal from the commercial rights holder, in agreement with national authorities in all areas related to safety. In this context, the FIA ensures that any event entered in an FIA world championship is organized in accordance with its statutes, sporting and technical regulations, and that the safety of the public, officials, drivers, and teams is guaranteed at all times during the event. The FIA must make rational decisions based on the information provided to us by the Bahraini authorities and by the commercial rights holder. Furthermore, we have conducted our own assessment of the current situation in Bahrain » states the body.
