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Formula 1 looking increasingly unlikely to take place in Bahrain this year
The FIA seemed ready on Thursday to overturn its decision to take Formula 1 back to Bahrain in late October, in effect paving the way for Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to put an end to the saga which has already embarrassed the sport.
Following the withdrawal of Ecclestone’s support for the Bahrain Grand Prix rescheduling, F1′s governing body published correspondence between the FIA and the teams association FOTA which suggests that the opposition is such that a decision to cancel will probably be announced this weekend in Canada.
FOTA’s letter, addressed to Todt, Ecclestone and Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani, stated that the new calendar was “unrealistic” for logistical and insurance reasons. The letter was signed by chairmen Martin Whitmarsh and Eric Boullier.
The letter also said F1 should only return to Bahrain “once the security conditions have been fully re-established”.
FIA president Jean Todt responded by writing that it is the responsibility of F1′s commercial rights holder, represented by Ecclestone, to “set the calendar and submit it to the FIA for approval”.
“The FIA always has at heart the smooth running of the championship and the interests of the teams, and is always prepared to address any issues, however difficult,” added the Frenchman.
“I have listened to your last-minute objections and have asked the commercial rights holder (Ecclestone) to re-examine his calendar proposal, and if necessary, to resubmit a revised proposal to the World Council,” wrote Todt.
Source: YallaF1
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he will not be charging the Bahrain government for its postponed 2011 season opener.
It was reported in recent days that, because it was the island Kingdom’s crown prince who actually called off the event, the more than $40 million race sanctioning fee was technically still payable to the sport.
But the Times quotes the F1 chief executive as saying: “Nobody wants to gain from this. I want to be loyal to the king because he is doing everything he can to put things right with his people. He doesn’t need people like me stabbing him in the back.”
Also to the Telegraph, 80-year-old Ecclestone played down claims he is so ruthless he will be collecting the fee even though the 2011 race may not take place.
“The fee that is normally being paid for the event is not being paid,” he insisted. “I am not charging them for a race they are not getting. Whether they are covered by their insurers for loss of revenues, ticket sales etc, I am not sure. But if anything is force majeure then that is. It is similar to if an earthquake had struck — no one could have foreseen that a month ago,” added Ecclestone.
The Briton clarified that F1 is “not insured for this sort of thing”.
“If and when it is rescheduled they will pay their usual fee,” explained Ecclestone, who denied that Bahrain pays more for the privilege of having the first race.
“There has never been an extra fee to stage the first race — or the last race for that matter. We put the calendar together to suit the sport,” he insisted.
Source: YallaF1
A dark cloud is lingering above the 2011 season opener.
Anti-government protesters in Bahrain are clashing violently with police, with next month’s grand prix specifically targeted by one group and Bernie Ecclestone admitting "danger".
For formula one, the biggest danger is that the race - scheduled to take place a week after pre-race tests at the same Sakhir circuit - will have to be called off.
"There are realities on the ground that we need to accept," an FIA spokesman told the Associated Press.
"But the FIA is fully confident, with the Bahrain motor federation, that the situation will be resolved amicably."
With a round of GP2 Asia taking place this weekend, the spokesman insisted that the situation is being closely monitored.
The Bahrain circuit said its main focus is safety.
"We are monitoring the situation very closely indeed in association with the relevant authorities, and will respond appropriately to any further developments," said chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa in a statement.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner acknowledged the threat to next month’s events but said there is no alarming news about the situation emerging from the venue at present.
The Briton’s GP2 team Arden is competing in Bahrain this weekend.
"I spoke to the team yesterday and they didn’t mention any concerns and hopefully that race will go ahead as planned," he told Reuters.
A GP2 spokesperson told the Guardian: "The teams at the track have reported nothing shocking. There is no concern and GP2 will be running this weekend."
Ecclestone told the Times that a decision about the F1 event will have to be taken "very quickly".
"It’s a great shame because Bahrain have worked very hard to get their grand prix, but we have to be aware of what is going on there," he said.
"We will be watching every day so that we can inform the teams as soon as possible when we know whether it is safe to go ahead."
He admitted the very real possibility of cancellation.
"The Middle East is a big growth area and we want to be there but we also want to be safe and make sure that formula one is seen in the best light," said Ecclestone.
"I have never had any problems in Bahrain in the past and I’m happy to walk around town there. But we don’t know now. The world is changing."
An FIA spokesman told the Guardian: "The plan is for the grand prix to go ahead but our main concern will always be the safety of the teams and the spectators."
Source: Nextgen
The FIA seemed ready on Thursday to overturn its decision to take Formula 1 back to Bahrain in late October, in effect paving the way for Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to put an end to the saga which has already embarrassed the sport.
