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Post by blacktulip on Feb 17, 2011 12:28:07 GMT
???The political situation in Bahrain continues to deteriorate, putting the running of next month's season-opening F1 race in jeopardy.
Update: The GP2 Asia races planned for this weekend have been cancelled.
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Post by blacktulip on Feb 17, 2011 12:29:02 GMT
If the race is called off would another venue be used or just reduce the season by one race !!!!
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Post by blacktulip on Feb 18, 2011 10:03:06 GMT
Bernie Ecclestone says a decision on whether the Bahrain Grand Prix can go ahead amid continued political unrest in the country will take place next week.
This weekend's GP2 Asia races at the Sakhir circuit have been cancelled after the crisis in Manama escalated overnight when security forces cleared demonstrators camping in the city, leading to a number of fatalities and widespread injuries.
In addition to the season-opener Formula 1 race on 13 March, Sakhir is also due to host F1's final winter test on 3-6 March.
Ecclestone admitted that the situation was a major concern.
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Post by susieq on Feb 19, 2011 23:04:28 GMT
Not good! I hope it all works out and the race can go ahead.
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Post by WickedPlans on Feb 20, 2011 23:02:07 GMT
It's not looking good is it.
It's a bit of a worry
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Post by blacktulip on Feb 21, 2011 10:15:35 GMT
The Formula 1 fraternity is waiting for a decision about the Bahrain Grand Prix and pre-race test early next week, with UK Foreign Office advice not to travel to the troubled country piling further doubts on whether the season-opener can go ahead.
Last night in a meeting in Barcelona, the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) discussed options for both the 3-6 March and the 11-13 March grand prix at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit.
Christian Horner, boss of world champion squad Red Bull Racing, said afterwards that the teams would trust Ecclestone and the FIA's judgement over the Bahrain situation.
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Post by susieq on Feb 21, 2011 16:05:06 GMT
Cancelled!!! Don't believe it! Australia looks like being the first race of the season.  |
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Post by digital_F1 on Feb 21, 2011 23:41:21 GMT
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Post by blacktulip on Feb 22, 2011 9:04:18 GMT
The Bahrain Grand Prix, which had been due to stage the opening round of the Formula 1 season on March 13, has been cancelled by organisers in the wake of the civil unrest in the country.
The chances of the Gulf nation hosting either the curtain-raising event to the 2011 campaign or pre-event test had looked increasingly unlikely in recent days amid growing political tensions and pro-democracy protests on the streets of the capital Manama.
Bahrain’s crown prince informed F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone of the country’s decision to pull out of hosting the season-opener during a telephone call on Monday afternoon, saying it was more important that the country focused on addressing its ongoing political and social problems.
"At the present time the country's entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain,” said Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in a statement.
"Although Bernie Ecclestone had graciously made clear a decision on the race was entirely Bahrain's to make and was not yet required, we felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain's Formula 1 race to a later date.
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Post by WickedPlans on Feb 22, 2011 14:45:07 GMT
It has to be the right decision. Bahrain does not need the Grand Prix there while they are trying to sort themselves out.
Australia will be a good opener to the season, though it is a shame that we have to wait another week for the racing to begin.
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Post by blacktulip on Feb 25, 2011 12:29:12 GMT
The Abu Dhabi race organisers are prepared to have their event close to the Bahrain Grand Prix on the calendar in order to accommodate the rescheduling of the race.
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Post by blacktulip on Mar 16, 2011 9:37:37 GMT
The prospects of Bahrain reclaiming its place on the 2011 Formula 1 calendar now look extremely remote after the king declared a three-month state of emergency on Tuesday.
The FIA has given the race organisers until May 1 to inform it whether it believes the race could be rescheduled for later in the year.
But the political turmoil in the kingdom has been escalating since fresh clashes between police and pro-democracy demonstrators last weekend and the controversial deployment of troops from neighbouring Gulf states, which has been described by the opposition al-Wefaq movement as “a blatant occupation” and “an undeclared war”.
Amid further clashes and reports of casualties on Tuesday, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa declared martial law – handing wholesale power to the security forces and instructing them to take “all necessary measures” to restore order.
As the three-month state of emergency extends beyond the May 1 deadline, race organisers are highly unlikely to be able to give the FIA the necessary assurances that they could put on a peaceful and orderly event.
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