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[What's Burning?]

FOTA had a lunch meeting at Barcelona today and it looks like they have officially moved the Bahrain test to Barcelona.

Here is the original link at the motor21 web site run through a web page translation bot.

Also, I think the move to Abu Dahbi is a distinct possibility. A lot of sponsors and contracts are contingent on 20 races, so lots of contracts and agreements would be adversely effected if they just cancelled. AD is close enough to organise the logistics. It would be difficult but possible.

If we would be finishing the year in Bahrain, I'd be completely against this, but this year ends in Brazil... so, this might work. I agree about the 20 contractual races though. Lots of complexity to not do 20.

[Hammer278]

Bernie Ecclestone has given an interview to the BBC in which he said he hoped the Bahrain Grand Prix would still go ahead and that a decision would be taken in "the middle of next week".

But Ecclestone has been slammed by many close to the sport for his comments which came across as, at best, insensitive given the major protests in Bahrain which have left a dozen people dead and hundreds more injured.

"I hope we don't have to do anything, I hope things will just carry on as normal," he said. "Obviously some people were killed, nobody's happy with that, I'm quite sure. Let's hope this all blows away. In these parts there's always been skirmishes. Perhaps it's a bit more than that."

"We don't know what the protesting is really about [but] we've never, ever, ever been involved in religion or politics. We don't make decisions based on those things."

Asked about the commercial implications of a cancellation, he said that had not been discussed. "It's not good because TV companies have scheduled to broadcast the race, so it's better than it happens than not."

Ecclestone confidant Bahrain g prix will happen as it's calmer (now they've shot people)
Twitter post from Channel 4's Alex Thomson

He also managed to belittle the GP2 Asia series, which cancelled a scheduled race in Bahrain this weekend because of the unrest. "As you know we pulled the GP2 race. It's the Asian series, so it's not terribly important, and it doesn't give a bad message to anybody, and we don't want to take any chances. And that was yesterday we decided to do that.

"Probably today if we had to make the decision on the information I've got, we wouldn't do that. But anyway it seems as if it's quiet, no big problems. I don't know if I was there or you were there we'd say there are problems, I've no idea. But that's what our people said. I'm more hopeful today than I was yesterday.

_____________________________

Whilst ignoring the typical arrogance , I'd say this is hopeful news. It's quite true what he says, when there's unrest in the country the media bangs it up an extra couple of notches. Maybe this could blow over in the next week or so...who knows.

[RascasseRebel]

Bernie really is as subtle as a sledgehammer isn't he? If the race does go ahead, Martin's grid walk could be interesting.....
If the race doesn't go ahead, I can't see it happening anywhere else, it would somehow be slotted in later in the season.

[What's Burning?]

"Probably today if we had to make the decision on the information I've got, we wouldn't do that. [b]But anyway it seems as if it's quiet, no big problems. I don't know if I was there or you were there we'd say there are problems, I've no idea. But that's what our people said. I'm more hopeful today than I was yesterday.

Ya think?

That's what happens when you have the military take control of an area and fire on civilians. Things quiet down and people tend to disperse.

[FRAFPDD]

"Probably today if we had to make the decision on the information I've got, we wouldn't do that. [b]But anyway it seems as if it's quiet, no big problems. I don't know if I was there or you were there we'd say there are problems, I've no idea. But that's what our people said. I'm more hopeful today than I was yesterday.

Ya think?

That's what happens when you have the military take control of an area and fire on civilians. Things quiet down and people tend to disperse.

They dont do dictatorships like they used to......

[killem2]

"Probably today if we had to make the decision on the information I've got, we wouldn't do that. [b]But anyway it seems as if it's quiet, no big problems. I don't know if I was there or you were there we'd say there are problems, I've no idea. But that's what our people said. I'm more hopeful today than I was yesterday.

Ya think?

That's what happens when you have the military take control of an area and fire on civilians. Things quiet down and people tend to disperse.

They dont do dictatorships like they used to......

Fo sho, Twitter + Facebook in the 40s would have murdered hitler.

[bmwpower]

How come nobody protest against the biggest mafia/ruler of sports....FIA & Bernie? I like to see Jean Todt and Bernie take out their F1 cars and use them as tanks, stewards can be their police beating people with their headphones, Max Mosley can be the military force with his band of Nazis, Flavio will return as acting vice president aka Vice Playboy. All kidding aside, the Middle East is the last place any non- Middle Easterns want to be and they hate everything and everyone outside so the last thing you want is to dance and party with all the F1 glamour on their soil while the country is in chaos. Scrap Bahrain and move it to another date but they are not gonna scrap it permanantly because of all the $$ involved.

[scotty]

Teams will follow FIA, FOM on Bahrain

By Edd Straw Friday, February 18th 2011, 19:30 GMT

Formula 1 teams will back the decision made by Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA over whether the under-threat Bahrain Grand Prix will take place, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

The 2011 season opener, scheduled to be held on March 13, is in doubt because of unrest in Bahrain - which forced this weekend's GP2 Asia race to be canned. Horner, speaking on behalf of the Formula 1 Teams' Association (FOTA) after a meeting held after today's testing in Barcelona, insists that it's not down to the teams to make the call.

"It's obviously a really difficult situation in Bahrain, but we have complete trust in Bernie, FOM and the FIA to make the right decision. They will only send us there if it is safe.

"It would be a great shame to lose the race, but it's not the teams' decision - it's down to the promoter. Bernie and the FIA will have much more information than us and we will trust their decisions."

During the meeting, teams also discussed the upcoming pre-season test in Bahrain, due to start on March 3. Alternative venues were considered, but the decision whether to run there or not will depend on the status of the grand prix. Should the race be cancelled, FOTA would switch to a different venue.

"One is linked to the other; they are only a week apart," said Horner. "It wouldn't make sense to go and test there if the race wasn't to happen. We will wait for feedback from FOM and the FIA and make a decision accordingly. We are looking at some alternatives because we don't know whether we can go to Bahrain."

Horner added that he expects a final decision "at some point during the next week."

[Stealthgate007]

doesn't look good.

Check out this video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp ... 6#41665296

[SennaVille]

Bernie is such a Mr. Burns caricature, and we sometimes hate him for it. This is a chance for him to totally redeem himself, flex those muscles and come through with a race for us fans. I don't care where they race...I just wont a race!!!!!!

[chaz wyman]

I think it is about time that F1 had a bit more sensitivity to its fans and the political situations in the countries they go to.
Racing in countries that support torture, lets say for sake of argument, is a tacit support of that policy.
We all know that no country is whiter than white, and there is much to be said for encouraging countries such as China to join in with the rest of the world.
But when it is shooting hundreds of it own people for asking for the same rights that we take for granted, then there is a line that has been crossed.
If F1 goes to Bahrain this year , then THIS fan is one fan that will no longer be watching F1 until it gets its act together.

So Bernie - give him back his £60 million from your back pocket and think about other people for once in your life.

[killem2]

What exactly is this riot about?

[What's Burning?]

I think it is about time that F1 had a bit more sensitivity to its fans and the political situations in the countries they go to.
Racing in countries that support torture, lets say for sake of argument, is a tacit support of that policy.
We all know that no country is whiter than white, and there is much to be said for encouraging countries such as China to join in with the rest of the world.
But when it is shooting hundreds of it own people for asking for the same rights that we take for granted, then there is a line that has been crossed.
If F1 goes to Bahrain this year , then THIS fan is one fan that will no longer be watching F1 until it gets its act together.

So Bernie - give him back his £60 million from your back pocket and think about other people for once in your life.

To have those feelings against the Bahrain GP, and not see China in the same light is somewhat hypocritical in my opinion. China gets a free pass simply because of their global economic force, but it's no different to what's being done elsewhere, they're not protesting because things are just dandy.

The reality is that if they paid the cash, Bernie would have a North Korean GP, and would package it in the spirit or reaching out.

[racechick]

Asked about the commercial implications of a cancellation, he said that had not been discussed. "It's not good because TV companies have scheduled to broadcast the race, so it's better than it happens than not."

He should have thought about that before he started introducing countries with no iterest in F1 just because they provided money for him!!!

[spankyham]

Asked about the commercial implications of a cancellation, he said that had not been discussed. "It's not good because TV companies have scheduled to broadcast the race, so it's better than it happens than not."

He should have thought about that before he started introducing countries with no iterest in F1 just because they provided money for him!!!

Bernie think about something other than money and himself??? I don't think so