Trouble in Bahrain?

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Ecclestone worried by Bahrain protest 'danger'
15 February 2011

Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has admitted his fears over the ongoing riots in Bahrain, with it having emerged on Tuesday that anti-government protesters are now targeting next month’s season-opening race.


Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

With the Arab world having witnessed protests of late in Tunisia and Egypt, Bahraini capital city Manama is currently the scene of numerous protests and violence which are also affecting proceedings ahead of this weekend’s GP2 Asia Series races.

Conflict has increased today, with police clashing with mourners at the funeral of a Shi'ite protestor who was shot dead during yesterday’s ‘Day of Rage’ demonstration; it is believed that today’s incident has resulted in the death of at least one person.

Ecclestone is now attempting to contact Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. "He is a bit busy, as you can imagine, so I don’t know yet exactly what is going on,” the 80-year-old explained to The Daily Telegraph.


Ecclestone and Bahrain's Crown Prince on the Sakhir starting grid in 2009

“The danger is obvious, isn’t it? If these people wanted to make a fuss and get worldwide recognition it would be bloody easy, wouldn’t it? You start making a problem on the start grid in Bahrain and it would get worldwide coverage.”

When asked whether the race could be cancelled due to the protest threat, Ecclestone replied: “I have no idea. It’s hard to establish exactly what is going on. “As I say, I’m speaking with the Crown Prince later on. We’re watching events closely. We’ll rely on what they think the right thing to do is.

“He is a very realistic person. 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.”

Bahrain rioters targeting Formula 1 race
15 February 2011

It has emerged in the Bahraini press that protesters are to target the season-opening Formula 1 race in a bid to ‘draw attention to their cause’, with capital city Manama currently scene of numerous riots which could also affect this weekend's GP2 races.

As reported on Tuesday, the Grand Prix is poised to be an ideal target for anti-government rioters thanks to its global reach of some 527 million television viewers.

“For sure F1 is not going to be peaceful this time,” Nabeel Rajab, Vice President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, told Arabian Business. “They’ll be lots of journalists, a lot of people looking and (the government) will react in a stupid manner as they did today and yesterday. And that will be bloody but will be more publicised.”

The protests in Bahrain follow other recent conflicts in the Arab world, such as those in Tunisia and Egypt. 


_{Courtesy of:  gpupdate.net}

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Bahrain officials ‘monitoring situation very carefully’
16 February 2011

Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain, has released an official statement after worries arose on Tuesday that the season-opening F1 race could be subject to anti-government rioters hoping to publicise their cause.

At present, a number of protests are being staged in Bahraini capital city Manama, with the disruptions following similar events Tunisia and Egypt. 


Sakhir will also play host to four days of testing a week before the race

However, the Crown Prince and CEO of the Bahrain International Circuit is confident that the Grand Prix – due to be staged on 13 March – will run smoothly and safely.

“The safety of all Bahraini nationals, expats and overseas visitors is a priority at all times in the Kingdom and, at the Bahrain International Circuit, our focus at the present time is on delivering another successful event in the form of the 2011 Gulf Air Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix,” he comments.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely indeed in association with the relevant authorities and will respond appropriately to any further developments.


_{Courtesy of:  gpupdate.net}

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Bahrain conflict forces GP2 cancellation
17 February 2011

It has been confirmed by GP2 Series organisers that this weekend’s Asia Series rounds have been cancelled under force majeure, with anti-government protests and riots continuing to take place as around fifty army tanks now make their way towards capital city Manama.

The cancellation of Rounds 3 and 4 of the GP2 Asia Series, with the entire GP2 fraternity already in the country, follow an earlier announcement this morning that practice and qualifying had been pushed back to Friday.


However, with Bahrain’s riots following those elsewhere in the Arab world, such as in Tunisia and Egypt, GP2 Series organisers issued the following statement at 2:55pm local time on Thursday (GMT +3):

‘Following the current events in Bahrain, at the request of the Bahrain Motorsport Federation, it has been decided that the remainder of the meeting which was supposed to take place this week at Bahrain International Circuit is cancelled due to force majeure.’

The early abolition ramps up fears of a similar outcome for both Formula 1 testing (3-6 March) plus the opening round of the World Championship on the weekend of 11-12-13 March.

_{Courtesy of:  gpupdate.net}

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Bahrain GP could be cancelled, Ecclestone warns
18 February 2011

Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has warned that, should the current conflict in Bahrain not be resolved before Wednesday of next week, the scheduled season-opening Grand Prix of 2010 could be cancelled. Prior to the race, four days of F1 testing are also scheduled to be staged at the Sakhir circuit.

At present, protests and riots continue in capital city Manama, with many hotels which usually accommodate Formula 1 personnel located in the heart of the zone.


This year's race is scheduled to take place on 13 March

“If things stay as they are today, the answer is no,” Ecclestone is quoted as saying by BBC Sport, when asked if the event could go ahead under the current circumstances.

“If it's not quietened down by Wednesday, I think we will have to cancel probably.

“I spoke to the Crown Prince this morning. He doesn't know any more than you or I, but they're monitoring exactly what is going on.”

Ecclestone now ‘more hopeful’ about Bahrain
18 February 2011

Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his latest thoughts over the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, which he had anticipated being cancelled should the country’s violent unrest not diminish before Wednesday of next week. Now, the Formula 1 commercial rights holder is more confident that the event will be taking place.

“Our people there say, ‘It's quiet, no problems,’” he explained to the BBC. “I'm more hopeful today. I hope we don't have to do anything. Let's hope this all blows away.”

At present, at least four people are reported to have been killed in the anti-government riots and over 230 injured. Prior to the F1 race on 13 March, the four final days of pre-season testing are scheduled to take place from Thursday 3 until Sunday 6.


_{Courtesy of:   gpupdate.net}

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Foreign Office warns against travel to Bahrain
19 February 2011

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has issued an official warning, advising nationals not to travel to Bahrain due to the current political unrest in the country which is resulting in protests and riots plus multiple injuries and several deaths.

Formula 1 is set to be in the Gulf state for the final pre-season test between Thursday 3 and Sunday 6 March plus the season-opening race event, which is due to take place across the weekend of 11-12-13 March.


Following a two-hour Barcelona meeting of the Sporting Regulations Working Group on Friday night, team heads have already stated that their final decisions for travel will come from sporting commercial rights holders Formula One Management (FOM) and governing body the FIA.

On Saturday, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned against any travel to Bahrain, unless essential, with more people having lost their lives yesterday as police are reported to have fired shots into crowds.

“The Bahraini government should move quickly to carry out its commitments to transparent investigations into recent events and any alleged human rights abuses,” commented UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

At the Circuit de Catalunya for the ongoing test, team heads continue to discuss alternative venues for the final test, in the event of it not going ahead.

_{Courtesy of:   gpupdate.net}

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Protestors put pressure on Crown Prince to cancel race
20 February 2011

Protestors in Bahrain have put added pressure on the Crown Prince to cancel the upcoming season opener at the Sakhir International Circuit. Following days of turmoil in the capital city of Manama, Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has been told to halt the opening race of 2011 from going ahead by protestors.

"The race has been the prince's dream since he was a child," said Hasan Dhani, quoted by The Associated Press. "He wants to negotiate so he can fulfill this dream, and it makes me sad that his dream is more dear to him than the needs of his people. The F1 is a big festival for us, too, and I love it. But our demands are worth sacrificing the race for."

Dhani’s words were echoed by Mohammed Nimah, who was also demonstrating in Manama. His strong words highlight the protestors ambitions, and show that they are willing for the Grand Prix to be sacrificed in order to achieve their goals.

"His precious Formula One is more important than the blood of his people which he spilled," Nimah said. "We put pressure on the Formula 1 contract, the crown prince got scared and now he wants to negotiate."

The decision over whether to travel to Bahrain for the upcoming pre-season test from March 3-6 will be made tomorrow evening.

_{Courtesy of:  gpupdate.net}

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‘Life more important than F1’ – Massa on Bahrain
21 February 2011

Felipe Massa has labelled life more important than Formula 1, with the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix having been called off on Monday evening. The Brazilian Ferrari driver spoke to the press, including GPUpdate.net, in a crowded press conference at the Circuit de Catalunya.

“Everybody here is more or less prepared to go to Bahrain, not just for the race but for the test as well,” began the man who topped today’s testing timesheets, “but the human side is much stronger than the professional side because what is happening there is very serious.

“I hope everything will (return to being) normal. The human and safe side is much more important than the professional side. Maybe we'll go back later the year, though. We now start in Australia, but I like Bahrain and would be happy to go back there.”

_{Courtesy of:   gpupdate.net}

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FIA welcomes decision to cancel Bahrain GP
22 February 2011

Formula 1 governing body the FIA has backed the decision made by Bernie Ecclestone and the Bahrain Crown Prince ahead of the 2011 season, with both the pre-season test and Grand Prix being cancelled due to the unrest in the country.

"The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile supports the decision of the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit to postpone the scheduled first Grand Prix of the 2011 season due to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain on March 11-13," a statement on the official FIA website began.

"This decision is the outcome of the close co-operation between the FIA, Formula One Management, the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit.

"The FIA is Formula One’s governing body and is responsible for the international calendar as well as all matters of safety relating to the stakeholders involved in Grand Prix racing."

_{Courtesy of:  gpupdate.net}

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Ecclestone not charging Bahrain for cancelled race
23 February 2011

Bernie Ecclestone has said that his Formula One Management (FOM) company, commercial rights holders for the sport, will not be pushing for organisers of the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix to submit their annual race fee.

Shortly before news came out that Bahrain would not host the season-opening race, general feeling in the Circuit de Catalunya testing paddock was that Ecclestone had handed the decision to the country’s Royal family so as to not jeopardise receiving an estimated sum of 40 million dollars (25 million pounds). However, the English disputes this.


'If anything is force majeure then that (civil unrest) is' – Bernie Ecclestone

“The fee that is normally being paid for the event is not being paid,” the 80-year-old explained to The Daily Telegraph.

“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, etcetera I am not sure, but if anything is force majeure then that (civil unrest) is.

“It’s similar to if an earthquake had struck – no-one could have foreseen that a month ago. What’s happened in Bahrain is desperately sad but a month ago everyone was looking forward to the race, no-one had a problem with it then.”

Adding that F1 itself is not insured for cancellations, Ecclestone stresses that he would like to see the Sakhir event placed into the calendar later in the year. “If everything is peaceful, which we hope it will be, we will try our best to fit it in,” he summed up.

_{Courtesy of:   gpupdate.net}

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F1 to lose $100m for Bahrain cancellation
24 February 2011

Formula 1 as a sport is expected to be losing an estimated 100 million dollars (61.7 million pounds) as a result of the Bahrain Grand Prix being cancelled. Although race organisers will not have to pay their fee to Formula One Management (FOM), the sport itself is not insured for such happenings.

The new financial data, collected from F1 trade guide Formula Money, has been compiled after the Sakhir event was called off due to civil unrest in the country.


Teams stand to lose millions of dollars in contractual penalties

The biggest loss of revenues is likely to come for the 12 teams, many of which will have to deal with penalty clauses in sponsorship contracts. With some 40 million dollars expected to be lost, Ferrari is the largest loser at 11 million dollars, as it receives more television income than any of its rivals.

Private equity firm CVC – majority shareholders of Formula One Administration (FOA) – will also lose out significantly, with Bernie Ecclestone having waivered the 40 million dollar fee for race organisers but after already paying for tonnes of freight to be dispatched to the Gulf state; the shipment will now be redirected to Australia.


Courtesy of:   gpupdate.net

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Bahrain declares three-month state of emergency
15 March 2011

Chances of repositioning the Bahrain Grand Prix on the 2011 Formula 1 calendar appear to have taken a significant dive after the King of Bahrain declared an official state of emergency for the country - lasting until June - on Tuesday.

The Sakhir race would have taken place two days ago although, following its postponement in February, Australia now inherits the season-opening slot with its originally planned race date of 27 March. Plans have since been discussed to place Bahrain amongst the final three events of the year.

An FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) decision must be made on Bahrain by 1 May

Today, with Bahrain having been subject to civil unrest for several weeks, BBC News is reporting that some 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops and a further 500 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been deployed in Bahrain capital Manama.

However, the state of emergency has been declared as rioters continue to state that they will tackle foreign forces ‘with their empty hands’.

“The presence of foreign forces and interference in Bahrain's internal affairs is unacceptable and will further complicate the issue,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.

_{Courtesy of:  gpupdate.net}