The future of the Bahrain GP is decided today

Today, Friday, June 3, Bahrain is expected to learn the fate of its Grand Prix, which was postponed following the civil unrest that occurred last February in this small Persian Gulf state.

This decision should actually take place the day after the state of emergency is lifted, while the television channel Al Jazeera claims that the police are using tear gas against protesters and while a witness asserts that with the end of the state of emergency, the security forces should no longer be there, but they still are.

For their part, Bahraini authorities claim that Bahrain is ready to host Formula One: « The end of the state of emergency and the announcement of discussions are both positive » says, to Reuters, Jamal Fakhro, Deputy Chairman of the Council. « Bahrain will host Formula One and any other event. There’s nothing wrong with that since life has returned to normal and it will be good to experience it again. »

« Friday, we will need to determine if the teams are against [the rescheduling of the race], who is against it, and why » declares Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA vice-president and president of the Abu Dhabi Automobile Federation, in the pages of the daily The National: « We have heavy decisions to make. »

Opinions remain divided in the paddock regarding this potential return to the calendar, starting with Mark Webber who stated yesterday on his Twitter account: « When people are mistreated in a country, it’s more important than sport. Let’s hope the right decision will be made… »

On his side, Max Mosley, in the columns of ESPNF1, states: « If I were president [of the FIA], today, Formula One would have to pass over my dead body to go to Bahrain. It cannot happen. The Grand Prix will be used to send a false image of Bahrain. They will try to use the Grand Prix as support for their actions, use F1 almost as a tool of repression. […] Going there would be a disaster in terms of public relations and sponsors will want to have their names removed from the liveries [of the cars]. »

Beyond these political and moral oppositions, the teams are mainly opposed to the schedule. Indeed, the reintroduction of the Bahrain Grand Prix cannot be done without extending the calendar. Thus, Bernie Ecclestone is considering organizing the Bahrain Grand Prix in place of the Indian Grand Prix, which would then be moved to a date in December, closing the World Championship.

“It’s becoming too much,” complains Ross Brawn. “We no longer have a testing team, so the guys have been working since January and we’re going to ask them to work until December, which means there will be no time for holidays before Christmas and they’ll resume right after, in January [2012]. So, personally, I think it’s unacceptable, and I’ve told Bernie who knows my opinion.”

Ultimately, aside from the Bahraini authorities, the only ones truly rejoicing over this potential postponement are the organizers of the Indian Grand Prix and the representatives of the Indian Federation, primarily its president, Vicky Chandhok: « Personally, I think that—and I am a bit selfish—December would be an ideal date considering that it would be the closing event. We could have a long weekend of award ceremonies [editor’s note: India will host the FIA banquet where the titles are officially awarded]. The weather would be excellent as well. However, October 30 is a good day too. The championship might not be decided. »

The firm and definitive cancellation remains a possibility but would, however, prove costly – 40 million dollars – for Bernie Ecclestone, even if he claims that money has nothing to do with his persistent support for maintaining the Grand Prix: “It has nothing to do with the money,” the F1 financial director told Reuters Television. “It has to do with the people… […] What has happened in this whole region, in all these countries, is not good in any way, so we have to wait and see.”