Bahrain F1

[Shell]

Well 21 days out and Bahrain is the middle of protests/riots including deaths..

Can't find much relating to the F1 specifically but did find this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-1357221/Bahrain-Grand-Prix-threat-human-rights-protesters-target-track.html

Bahrain Grand Prix under threat as human rights protesters target circuit

Next month's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix could be disrupted by anti-government protests, according to a local human rights group.

The country has become the latest Arab nation to experience substantial public unrest in the wake of events in Tunisia and Egypt.

Although protests were initially peaceful, two people have so far been killed, further inflaming an increasingly volatile situation.

With the international spotlight set to focus on the country for the start of the new F1 season on March 13, Nabeel Rajab, the vice president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, feels certain protesters will look to take advantage.

'For sure F1 is not going to be peaceful this time,' he told Arabian Business. 'There'll be lots of journalists, a lot of people looking and (the government) will react in a stupid manner as they have done, and that will be bloody, but will be more publicised.

'This will not stop, especially now when people have died. I don't think it's going to stop easily.'

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is 'watching events closely'.

Ecclestone has confirmed he is planning to speak with the Crown Prince, Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, to discuss the situation.

'He is a bit busy, as you can imagine, so I don't know yet exactly what is going on,' Ecclestone told The Daily Telegraph. '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.'

Discussing the prospect of the race being cancelled, the 80-year-old added: 'I have no idea. It's hard to establish exactly what is going in.

'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.'

[Duncan]

surely bernie wont let a dictator being deposed stop his show?

[Shell]

Hope not!

The GP2 Asia Series postponed todays practice because all the medical staff are at the hospitals in case of emergencies.

EDIT: GP2 has now been cancelled.

[Shell]

Ecclestone to act quickly on Bahrain

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone will wait until next week to make a decision on whether or not the Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead in the wake of the political turmoil going on in the Gulf state.

With tensions high following a number of deaths and injuries to protesters after police forcefully confronted them in Manama in the early hours of Thursday, doubts have emerged about whether F1's season opener can still go ahead.

Bahrain GP officials are adamant, however, that they are still pushing ahead with plans for the March 13 race - and Ecclestone himself has said that he will not make a snap decision until the situation becomes clearer.

Speaking to The Press Association, Ecclestone said that he had been kept up-to-date with events by the Bahrain royal family - and that a call on the viability of the race will come next week.

"It's not good, is it?" he said. "We'll have to keep our eye on things and make a decision quickly.

"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.

"Next week we will make a decision on what we are going to do."

F1 teams are due to meet in Barcelona on Friday to discuss the Bahrain situation, with teams set to ship their cars to the Middle East next week for the final pre-season test that takes place on March 3-6.

[sh@un]

Unlike what happened in Egypt, the armed forces in Bahrain most definitely are on the side of the government.

Nothing like a vulgar display of power to put a people in their place (which is what the Arabic psyche understands best).

[Beer Baron]

I imagine you are right. the smack will be laid down and the dissidents will quietly watch the F1 on their gold plated televisions.

[benm]

McLaren will be hoping its postponed, they will need the extra time to catch the RBR's

[sh@un]

whaaatevaaar

[Nee-san]

Well Bernie that's what you get for selling races to shitholes

[N1GTR]

McLaren will be hoping its postponed, they will need the extra time to catch the RBR's

[sh@un]

Everyone loves a good fictional story

[Nee-san]

Ron Dennis spotted paying off a photocopier in Milton Keynes.

[N1GTR]

Hahaha keep it coming

[Beer Baron]

lol, you'd think people in F1 could afford not to have to go to 'kwik kopy' for their pirated F1 material.... but it's been proven they are just as dumb as all the other corporate criminals.

[Shell]

Bahrain F1 test and race cancelled.

[Nee-san]

Journalists reveal Martin Whitmarsh and the Mclaren F1 testing team working with the Bahrain government on a "mutually beneficial techno-political optimisation programme"

Sources close to Woking based squad state they are actually testing a new rear wing solution that uses Lewis Hamiltons ego to stall the rear wing, resulting in a 17% decrease in dynamic drag.

Edited February 21, 2011 by Nee-san

[Shell]

LOL

[N1GTR]

Lol!!!!

[iamhe77]

Bahrain F1 test and race cancelled.

No loss.

Bring on Melbourne!