Bahrain GP situation: postponed, reinstated, cancelled

[Callum]

Hope they have a 1 lap or a 6 car race on sunday

Why?

[manchild]

Hope they have a 1 lap or a 6 car race on sunday

No way, that would enable Schumacher to win, just like he did at USGP 2005

Just kidding, I also hope this turns into total fiasco, but with no one getting injured or killed. Just a global, broadcasted fiasco of FOM, FIA, Bahrain tyrant and race sponsors.


BTW, I understand that Bernie has lost his marbles years ago, but I can't understand why teams are sending their people in what could turn into war zone any second. Why is holding a single GP in such conditions so important, while we had races called off from calendar because run off areas were a bit outdated etc.

Button "trusts" in FIA assessment of security. Now, that must be the stupidest statement I've heard from someone able to take care of himself and judge for himself. According to him, if Bernie tells Todt "explain to drivers that firebombs aren't dangerous", Button will walk around like a sheep in bliss, because FOM and FIA dictators have agreed to support Bahrain dictator, even if it means risking life of F1 team members, drivers, journalists etc.

[WhiteBlue]

Button "trusts" in FIA assessment of security. Now, that must be the stupidest statement I've heard from someone able to take care of himself and judge for himself. According to him, if Bernie tells Todt "explain to drivers that firebombs aren't dangerous", Button will walk around like a sheep in bliss, because FOM and FIA dictators have agreed to support Bahrain dictator, even if it means risking life of F1 team members, drivers, journalists etc.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

F1 is also very close to a dictatorship in many regards and equally corrupt as the Al-Khalifas. We should not forget that.

[Hail22]

[WhiteBlue]

Joe Sawards Blog:

We saw word that Force India personnel had been caught up in the troubles in Manama overnight. It was entirely predictable – and indeed has been predicted – because the dice are being rolled every day as Formula 1 people go backwards and forwards from the Bahrain International Circuit and hotels in Manama. This involves passing through the belt of Shia villages around the capital where most of the action happens.

Four team members ran into trouble on the main highway, near Manama, when a clash between police and protesters spilled on to the main road. The vehicle was forced to stop but, although a Molotov Cocktail exploded nearby, they were able to get going again and reached the hotel without any further problems.

The Bahrain International Circuit called it “an isolated incident”. I would prefer the description “a lucky escape”. A Molotov Cocktail can land just about anywhere in the middle of such a fight.

Twitter from Ian Parkes who is reporting from Bahrain since Monday:

Ian Parkes
I've alsoi discovered for the first time demnstrations are to take place on Sunday in the vicinity of the circuit.
12:40 PM - 19 Apr 12

The Force India incident happened because the Molotov and tear gas using village demonstrations enveloped the highway that F1 people must use.

If the Febr.12 Youth Coalition manages to stage a big demonstration near the circuit the police forces will be unable to provide perimeter defence. Inevitably demonstrators will invade the compound. The only way to prevent this is to surround the compound with troops and tanks. This will be a bit counter productive to the "UniF1ed - one nation in celebration" message that the race is supposed to send.

[Richard]

Re Molotov cocktails - I'm just waiting for Bernie to say he's pleased to see all the celebratory fires and pyrotechnics thanks to the unifying nature of F1. He'll also mention sprinklers and medals in the same interview.

[manchild]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/ ... 19?rpc=401

UK politicians warn sponsors over Bahrain Grand Prix

By Keith Weir

LONDON, April 19 | Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:03am EDT

(Reuters) - A group of British lawmakers has warned Formula One sponsors that they risk damaging their brands by supporting the Bahrain Grand Prix, arguing the race should have been called off because of political turmoil in the Gulf Arab nation.

Anti-government protesters are planning "days of rage" in the run-up to Sunday's race, part of a 20-race circuit that generates annual revenues of $2 billion.

A former London policeman who is advising the Bahrain government said the safety of teams and spectators could not be guaranteed and an employee of the British-based Force India team returned home on Thursday because of security fears.

Andy Slaughter, a British politician who heads the All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Bahrain, has written to several of the blue chip companies who bankroll the sport.

"The scheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix will provide a forum and indicate to the rest of the world that it is business as usual - when the reality could not be further from the truth," he wrote.

"We are most alarmed that you see no grounds to sever your brand and save its reputation from a totalitarian regime," he added. "We sincerely hope you will rethink your associations with the Bahrain Grand Prix and decide to curtail your sponsorship of the race at Sakhir."

The letter was sent to Royal Dutch Shell, Vodafone, Unilever, Total, Siemens, Red Bull, UBS, News Corp, Hugo Boss, Ferrari, ExxonMobil, Deutsche Post and Daimler, Slaughter said.

"If they are major sponsors, they should at least defend their position," he told Reuters, adding that it was now probably too late to organise an effective boycott.

Thomson Reuters, parent company of Reuters news agency, sponsors the Williams Formula One team but Slaughter did not include it on his list of firms that were sent the letter.

A number of the Formula One teams are based in Britain and Briton Bernie Ecclestone, 81, runs the sport's commercial operations.

John Yates, a former assistant commissioner of London's Metropolitan police, said there were certain to be protests in Bahrain over the weekend.

"People say can we guarantee security. Of course we can't guarantee security. I'd be a fool to sit here and say that," he told Britain's Guardian newspaper.

[franciscoevaldez]

Just a tweet about a rumour, so is to be taken as extremely unconfirmed, but spanish journalist Antonio Lobato at the track tweets:

Hay un rumor en el paddock que dice que manana podria suspenderse el gran premio. Pero es solo un rumor

that meaning:

There's a rumour at the paddock that says tomorrow the grand prix could be cancelled. But it's just a rumour

source: https://twitter.com/#!/alobatof1

From what we know, is it even possible? considering how much it is at stake politically for the FIA, FOM & BIC?

[WhiteBlue]

There's a rumour at the paddock that says tomorrow the grand prix could be cancelled. But it's just a rumour

source: https://twitter.com/#!/alobatof1

All depends of the logistics of staging a big enough demonstration at the circuit. If the protestors manage that the Al-Kalifas will rather cancel than loosing face by calling the tanks in.

[Shrieker]

My brother has just mentioned that the teams might've been paid a hefty amount by the royalty so as not to protest the event and take place in the race - which is the same thing.

[Richard]

I doubt that. More likely a threat to teams that a boycott would result in exclusion of from the championship. It's a founding tenet of the Concorde Agreement that all teams must take part in all races.

[CHT]

I am expecting things will get really messy after their Friday prayer tomorrow.

[GrizzleBoy]

I am expecting things will get really messy after their Friday prayer tomorrow.

That would be sadly and massively ironic if that is the case.

[astracrazy]

Unfortunately it for me is a great shame that no body with authority had said stop, this isn't right, we shouldn't be here. It has nothing to do with politics, but pure safety. I'm sure that should FOTA (for example) have said we are not going, Bernie isn't going to exclude all from the championship.

I don't care what terms are in what agreement, the teams have a responsibility to look after their staff. Whilst the drivers and heads of this and heads of that might get the best security, it is the team workers and mechanics which are at the greatest risk. (which has clearly been shown today). Who will be held responsible if something happens to team personnel?

ps. What exactly are the security plans for this reason? Will every entry be searched? Is there a police permitter of the circuit?

[WhiteBlue]

Who will be held responsible if something happens to team personnel?

I think the responsibility for casualties will be squarely with Jean Todt. Whether he will acknowledge that responsibility is a different thing. If things go wrong I expect him to be blown away at the election next year. But my gut feeling tells me that he has a deal with Abdulla and Salman to call it off before it gets nasty. They all cannot profit if violence erupts at the circuit.

Stuart Ramsay
Sky news denied access to report from f1 in bahrain #Bahrain Govt refuses to explain why I can't come in. We are excluded without redress but have asked to represent all sides. #Bahrain govt welcomes f1 but not independent journalists who actually understand the complexity of this issue
5:56 PM - 19 Apr 12 via web

This follows on from this report earlier about Association Press being banned from Bahrain. They seem to wine and dine those journos which they think are under Bernie's paddock pass discipline. Others who may be inclined to take a critical view are not admitted. No further comment necessary.