Bahrain organisers ready to host Formula 1 Grand Prix

[David Jundt]

Now even Max Mosley says it's wrong to race there.

 

[Chris Jenkins]

Then we can already scrap China, India, Abu Dhabi or even USA and Russia from the (present and future) calendars.

They're going to the places willing to pay the most.
I think it's wrong to extend the season into December.
Ross Brawn was saying how unfair it will be on all the staff to work until mid-December, only have a maximum of 2 weeks break before development for the 2012 season begins.
It's borderline unethical.

 

[Luke McVicar]

what Bernie says, goes.

 

[James Chant]

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has admitted the Bahrain Grand Prix is unlikely to go ahead as the race cannot be rescheduled without the support of the teams.

Ecclestone had backed moving the race to October 30 after the season opener had originally been postponed because of unrest in the country.

But now Ecclestone has admitted the race will not go ahead after 11 F1 teams objected.

Ecclestone told BBC Sport: "Hopefully there'll be peace and quiet and we can return in the future, but of course it's not on. The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants – they're the facts."

Ecclestone's comments come after the move to put the Bahrain race on in October – and move the race originally schedule for that date in India back until December – attracted widespread criticism.

That move was condemned by teams and drivers and also by human rights organisations, who were unhappy with claims by the sport's governing body, the FIA, that the situation had returned to normal in Bahrain.

Global campaigning organisation Avaaz criticised the FIA's fact-finding report on Bahrain as like "stepping into the Twilight Zone".

The FIA and president Jean Todt have come in for considerable criticism, not least from former FIA president Max Mosley who highlighted a major flaw in the process, something which Ecclestone has now also admitted.

Despite the apparent unanimous vote at the World Motor Sport Council hearing in Barcelona on Friday, Mosley noted a decision cannot be made law unless there is unanimous approval from all the teams.

Eleven of the marques, under the umbrella of the Formula One Teams' Association, wrote a letter to the FIA, Ecclestone's Formula One Management and the Bahrain International Circuit claiming they do not want to race in Bahrain this year.

FOTA have urged the Indian Grand Prix be reinstalled on its initial October 30 date and that Bahrain, that had taken up the slot on the back of the WMSC hearing, be held over until the end of the season, should it go ahead at all.

Pressure has been growing on the FIA to reverse their decision, not least from human rights groups in the wake of viewing a report made by one of the vice-presidents, Carlos Gracia.

Ricken Patel, executive director at Avaaz whose organisation has so far gathered nearly half a million signatures calling for the race to be called off, said: "Reading the FIA's Bahrain report is like stepping into the Twilight Zone.

"While the FIA's sham report says no human rights have been violated, at least 31 Bahrain citizens have been killed and hundreds more tortured and imprisoned. Formula One based their decision to race in Bahrain on this dangerously irresponsible report, a decision now universally opposed by the F1 teams.

"Formula One must pull out of Bahrain immediately or have their reputation forever tarnished."

Gracia claimed in his report, based on a visit whilst martial law was still in effect, that all had returned to normal in Bahrain.

However, Maryam Al-Khawaja, representing the independent Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, said: "The report is disastrously unbalanced.

"The FIA has chosen to turn a blind eye to the ongoing violations in Bahrain.

"The government should allow independent human rights groups to do their work in Bahrain."

Gracia, the president of the Spanish motorsport federation, has defended his corner in the wake of the criticism levelled against him.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS, Gracia said: "I can only speak about what I saw and that was complete quietness.

"I had official visits and interviews, but I also walked down the street and I was in shopping centres, always with a feeling of complete normality. There were people shopping or working. Nothing that caught my attention.

"What I found was an open government that offers the opposition the chance to speak."

Despite Gracia's report it now seems growing pressure, particularly from the teams, has led to a change of heart which will see the Bahrain moved to the end of the season if it goes ahead at all this year.

telegraph.co.uk

 

[Bruno Sousa Ferreira]

Well I not suprised it has been called off

 

[David Jundt]

Finally, Bernie Egghead, "Billy" Jean Todt and Prince "Purple Rain"(Actually, the prince not) notice it's no good.

Well done boys, have a cookie.

 

[Jax Humanhater]

I'm thrilled.

At least we won't be revving engines and locking brakes in a situation of potential gunfire. (I hope the protesters are not aiming their guns towards the F1 cars or the drivers, but I would be insane to think such for certain).

 

[Eric Parker]

Human rights issues aside...

Does the middle east need more than 1 GP a year, or SE Asia or China/Korea? I don't think so. Instead of chasing easy petrol dollars, the sport should be more accessible to the fans. Which is mostly Europe. I would like to see more of the older Euro tracks raced and not the cookie cutter Tilke tracks, plus that way you will also get fans in attendance (I am looking at you Turkey). I think the Asian exception to what I said above is Japan, fans there are bonkers about the sport and deserve to have a race every year.

 

[Scott Webber]

YAY, great news

 

[Chris Jenkins]

Human rights issues aside...

Does the middle east need more than 1 GP a year, or SE Asia or China/Korea? I don't think so. Instead of chasing easy petrol dollars, the sport should be more accessible to the fans. Which is mostly Europe. I would like to see more of the older Euro tracks raced and not the cookie cutter Tilke tracks, plus that way you will also get fans in attendance (I am looking at you Turkey). I think the Asian exception to what I said above is Japan, fans there are bonkers about the sport and deserve to have a race every year.

Middle East is where the money is.
The newer races (Abu Dhabi, Korea, India, etc) are paying over double what most of the other hosts are paying for their GPs. Russia and Texas will probably be paying in excess of double.
For as long as this is the case, there will be less 'cheaper' European races on the calender and more 'profitable' breakaway races.

Its a sad fact, but that's business.

 

[TheHemps]

Despite the brave face he's putting on, I can imagine Bernie is crying his eyes out right now, and catching the tears with his bank statement.

 

[Scott Webber]

Bernie Ecclestone believes Formula 1's turnover and profit will remain stable for 2011 after revealing that the Bahrain organisers paid their race hosting fee.


The fee is estimated at around £25 million ($40m) and was paid despite the cancellation of the event due to political unrest in the country.


Ecclestone had earlier said that he wouldn't charge the organiser, but he told the Independent, that when he attempted to return it, they told him not 'to bother'.


"I don't think turnover will be down this year," said the 80-year-old. "I think it will be flat because we were paid for Bahrain. I said we will give them the money back and they said don't bother.


"I think the turnover and profit will be more or less the same as 2010," he added.
The 2012 Bahrain GP is scheduled for April 22nd.

[ Read the Full Story at the thef1times.com - Click Here ]

 

[James Chant]

James - Hi Scott do you want £25m -

Scott - nah, don't bother


Yeah right.

 

[Scott Webber]

James - Hi Scott do you want £25m -

Scott - nah, don't bother


Yeah right.

actually i would take it! haha... Bernie talks a load of crap and he probably did with this story, but i also believe the outcome too as they have so much money £25m isn't that big of a deal to them. Yes they are some of the riches people in the world there.

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

I would be glad to have 0,01 of that :O

 

[James Chant]

I would be glad to have 0,01 of that :O

You could buy a pretty decent car with that sort of money!

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

I dont think Bahrain will suffer. Can also understand Bernie if he took it as his organization has too book flights, hotels, catering and god's knows what more. Those suppliers need to be paid as well.

And the remaining 24,000,000 he can put in his own pockets and safe it for later when is old... oh wait

 

[Adam Eggbeer]

And the remaining 24,000,000 he can put in his own pockets and safe it for later when is old... oh wait

He needs it to pay for his daughter's wedding :wink:

 

[James Chant]

He can lend me some to pay for mine if he likes?