Bahrain has until June 3 to save its Grand Prix
The FIA has decided not to decide anything.
While the fate of the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was supposed to be decided last Sunday, May 1st, the FIA has decided to grant Bahrain an additional extension.
The Grand Prix, supposed to take place on March 13, was postponed due to the current political unrest in the predominantly Shiite country. Following the protests, the Sunni-led government declared a state of emergency on March 15 for a duration of three months. Since then, hundreds of people have been imprisoned, including bloggers, journalists, political leaders, and human rights activists, while at least thirty people have lost their lives since mid-February. More recently, four Shiite protesters were sentenced to death for the killing of two police officers during last month’s protests, and three others were sentenced to life imprisonment. The protest seems to be spreading to government administration as 111 employees of the education ministry were dismissed for participating in the protest movement and are expected to be prosecuted for “flagrant violations” of public service regulations. Similarly, three former editors of the opposition newspaper Al Wasat are expected to be prosecuted for a coverage of the protest movement described as “contrary to ethics,” publishing “fabricated” information and “falsified photographs.”
Last week, Bernie Ecclestone expressed his desire for Bahrain to be given an extension: « Things can change in a few weeks… so, who knows? […] Everything might calm down suddenly in a month, and they would be happy to host the event, and we would be happy to participate. »
The chief financial officer of Formula One seems to have been heard by the FIA: the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile has granted the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit an additional deadline until June 3, the date of the World Council in Barcelona. […] The decision was made after consultation with the competent Bahraini authorities and FOM [of Bernie Ecclestone], the statement specifies.
The organizers of the Grand Prix, for their part, showed determination to hold their race: “Clearly, our priority is to find a solution to the problems facing the Kingdom,” said Zayed Rashid Alzayani, president of the circuit. “The situation in our country is evolving positively at every moment. […] The Bahrain Grand Prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a great source of pride for Bahrain and the Bahrainis. It is a global showcase, and we hope to once again welcome the teams, drivers, and everyone involved in Formula One to Bahrain.”
