F1 boss Ecclestone defends Bahrain decision, which is under heavy criticism from team owners
F1 boss Ecclestone defends Bahrain decision, which is under heavy criticism from team ownersBernie Ecclestone has cited "unusual circumstances" as the reason behind Friday's highly controversial decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix on this year's Formula One calendar.
However, far from it being the end of the matter, with the race due to be staged on October 30 and the Indian Grand Prix now scheduled for December 11, it is only the beginning.
Cars race during at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakir during
Bahrain GP 2010. ufffd PIC/Getty ImagesPress Association Sport understands no team is interested in racing in Bahrain this year ufffd not only from a moral standpoint, but also in regard of insurance issues for team employees ufffd whilst sponsors are expected to show resistance.
Understandably, there was an immediate backlash to the position of the World Motor Sport Council as human rights groups voiced their opposition, whilst on various forums fans were left outraged. Ecclestone said: "The truth of the matter is, this was voted on by the FIA, that was it. It went through the World Council.
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"The FIA sent people out there to check on the situation, they came back and reported everything is fine.
"It's obvious that everybody feels they need to be safe when we get there.
"In the end we'll have to wait and see what happens in Bahrain. If there is peace and no problems then I suppose the teams will be all right."
The ball is now in the court of the teams, notably as they stated to Ecclestone in a meeting in Monaco nine days ago that racing in December was "totally unacceptable," according to Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn.
It is clear that message was ignored on Friday, with Ecclestone adding: "Of course they'd rather not be racing in December, but these are unusual circumstances." To assess the situation in Bahrain the FIA embarked on a 'fact- finding' mission this week that was conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Bahrain Motor Federation and Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
They reported that reinstating the grand prix would be "a means of helping to unite people as the country looks to move forward."
Zayed R Alzayani, chairman of the BIC, said: "By the time the grand prix arrives we will be able to remind the world about Bahrain at its best."
