Bahrain GP situation: postponed, reinstated, cancelled

[Hail22]

...

Back to Bahrain, If America, Japan oh and Australia has a travel warning technically that would mean the Bahrain GP is not a viable option, what happens if someone runs through the gates and into a stand shooting, stabbing, bombing fans.

It would put Formula 1 in an enternal black spot.

[Hail22]

Update: Seems that it may be cancelled if you refer to the link to the Formula 1 website the travel, tickets section has it in grey which means they are uncertain about it being on the calendar.

http://www.formula1.com/tickets_and_travel/

[WhiteBlue]

I continue to see no chance for the GP to go forward. I have said so since November 2011 and the situation has not improved one bit since then. The al Khalifas will probably pay Bernie again in order to keep the GP on the schedule but the race isn't going to run this year.

As it stands I have my doubts that they can fix the situation in time for the 2013 GP. It is just too much political change that has to be implemented. The government report confirms the atrocities and human rights violations but no remedies are actioned. The protests are more violent every months and Amnesty International confirms ongoing torture by the regime. There is no sign of a change in government or the way the majority of the population is represented in a parliamentary system.

The F1 circus has some common sense left in it. The cancellation of the 2011 race has shown that. The same forces will prevent the 2012 race to take place. You simply can't hold a race in a place where protesters can invade the track and throw themselves in front of the cars with 500 million people watching on TV. It is not done that way.

[gridwalker]

The contract for race promotion is held by a member of the very same family that the protesters want to depose; if the protesters get what they want then there CAN be no race until the political situation stabilises.

If the race goes ahead as normal and the protesters are ignored, western society will be seen as rewarding one of the few decadent regimes that managed to suppress their rebellious population during the Arab Spring. Considering all of the high minded rhetoric being exchanged regarding the Syrian conflagration, this race might be perceived as hypocrisy of the highest order ... this potential for blowback makes it a disaster waiting to happen.

Pull it from the calendar IMHO. It is hardly as if there are a shortage of worthy venues - Bernie just needs to realise that sometimes the money just isn't worth it.

[Richard]

Not quite, Bernie will hang on and get his money. Then there will be a mutual agreement to not hold the race. FOM can say what nice people there are in Bahrain and that'd they'd love to race there, such a shame etc. The Bahrain rulers can say FOM supports us but the race can't go ahead due to practical issues. Sponsors don't have to worry about damaging their brand. Politics are not mentioned, nobody is rejected, nobody loses face, Berne gets his cash.

[gray41]

If Bahrain gets cancelled again, would it be worth thinking about going to Istanbul Park as a replacement

[Hail22]

If Bahrain gets cancelled again, would it be worth thinking about going to Istanbul Park as a replacement

Istanbul, Austrian Grand Prix, Hockenheim.

Also

[Richard]

If Bahrain didn't pay the fee then they'd permanently lose the right to hold the race.

So the reason for payment is to secure the calendar slot for the following year. The payment ensures the contractual requirements are met, but force majeure prevents the race taking place.

[Shrieker]

If Bahrain gets cancelled again, would it be worth thinking about going to Istanbul Park as a replacement

I'd say it's worth it yes But if Bernie's plan is to hang on and get the race fee for the Bahrain GP, then of course there won't be any time left to either negotiate or organize the race here.

[Hail22]

Bernie is a Dinosaur Carlos Slim and Murdoch will make a play at the CVC in the next few years, they already have TV rights (Sky).

[jenkF1]

Im really considering boycotting this race, i.e not tuning in to watch it...

I decided to write a damning report on the whole affair in my blog and email the Bahraini government,Mclaren and Redbull (who are backed by Bahrani sponsors) and FOCA. :-"

http://dmanf1.blogspot.com/2012/02/only ... -were.html

[Hail22]

Im really considering boycotting this race, i.e not tuning in to watch it...

I decided to write a damning report on the whole affair in my blog and email the Bahraini government,Mclaren and Redbull (who are backed by Bahrani sponsors) and FOCA. :-"

http://dmanf1.blogspot.com/2012/02/only ... -were.html

I wish you goodluck however Formula 1 only listens to those with full wallets, yet the hypocrits need us for viewing ratings...ha...

I refuse to watch this Grand Prix nor watch live timing, or read articles on the winner whoever wins that race will win a race soaked in blood/oppression.

[WhiteBlue]

I decided to write a damning report on the whole affair in my blog and email the Bahraini government,Mclaren and Redbull (who are backed by Bahrani sponsors) and FOCA. :-"

Care to explain how Red Bull is sponsored by Bahrain?

[jenkF1]

I decided to write a damning report on the whole affair in my blog and email the Bahraini government,Mclaren and Redbull (who are backed by Bahrani sponsors) and FOCA. :-"

Care to explain how Red Bull is sponsored by Bahrain?

Thanks for the support Hail22.

Last year a BBC segment by Ted Kravitz on the Bahrain situation mentioned that Bahrain corporations have stakes in Redbull and Mclaren. I did some research online and found an organisation BMMI group. They are a middle eastern food distributor based in Barhrain, and a quote from their website regarding Redbull states 'Highest per capita consumption in MENA region'.

Though I wish to do further research to see if exactly what organisations Ted was talking about, I feel that it is sufficient to assume BMMI would certainly have an affect on Webber's comments in the team. Such comments could potentially see Redbull drinks being taken off the shelfs in that country and a sufficient market share being lost.

In regards to Mclaren, I know who they were referring to - Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company owns a 30 percent share in Mclaren and are government owned!

[myurr]

I continue to see no chance for the GP to go forward. I have said so since November 2011 and the situation has not improved one bit since then. The al Khalifas will probably pay Bernie again in order to keep the GP on the schedule but the race isn't going to run this year.

As it stands I have my doubts that they can fix the situation in time for the 2013 GP. It is just too much political change that has to be implemented. The government report confirms the atrocities and human rights violations but no remedies are actioned. The protests are more violent every months and Amnesty International confirms ongoing torture by the regime. There is no sign of a change in government or the way the majority of the population is represented in a parliamentary system.

The F1 circus has some common sense left in it. The cancellation of the 2011 race has shown that. The same forces will prevent the 2012 race to take place. You simply can't hold a race in a place where protesters can invade the track and throw themselves in front of the cars with 500 million people watching on TV. It is not done that way.

Whilst you are probably right that it'll end up being cancelled again, I personally really wish it won't be. F1 should be a beacon of light to that country, bringing media attention and scrutiny to the region. Think about why the media is currently giving as prominent coverage to Bahrain as it is - precisely because of the GP. If the government give up on hosting a GP then do you think there will be this same scrutiny next year?

And above all F1 should stay out of politics. We race in places like China and India, where there are very real human rights abuses and state sponsored murders day in day out, and whilst I'm not one of them many people around the world have issues with America. If we allow politics to dictate where we race then you'd be able to find a group of people that would object to every single race on the calendar. Where do you draw the line? Why single out Bahrain?