The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) has announced that the Kingdom of Bahrain will withdraw from hosting this year’s F1 Grand Prix race, so that the country can focus on its process of national dialogue. The Crown Prince – HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa informed Formula One’s Bernie Ecclestone of the BIC’s decision by telephone earlier today.
HRH Prince Salman said: “At the present time the country’s entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain. Although Bernie Ecclestone had graciously made clear that a decision on the race was entirely Bahrain’s to make and was not yet required, we felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain’s Formula 1 race to a later date. I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Bernie Ecclestone for his support and understanding. After the events of the past week, our nation’s priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together; reminding the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united.
Chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, Zayed R. Alzayani said: “Bahrain’s Grand Prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a source of great pride for Bahrain and Bahrainis. It is a showcase to the world and we look forward to welcoming the teams and drivers and everyone involved in Formula One back to Bahrain in the very near future. I hope that F1 and our friends around the world will understand our decision at this difficult time.”
Following the Crown Prince’s decision, Bernie Ecclestone commented: “It is sad that Bahrain has had to withdraw from the race, we wish the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country. The hospitality and warmth of the people of Bahrain is a hallmark of the race there, as anyone who has been at a Bahrain Grand Prix will testify. We look forward to being back in Bahrain soon.”
No decision has been made on a new date for the rescheduling of the race, which was due to take place from March 11th to 13th.
Yeah, Im sure Bernie made it very clear he wouldnt be making the decision and forfeiting his race fee.
Ah well now the season starts as it should – in the middle of the night with eyelids propped open by matchsticks. Anything else just feels wrong.
Finally, about time.
I am a bit disturbed by this quote:
“Although Bernie Ecclestone had graciously made clear that a decision on the race was entirely Bahrain’s to make and was not yet required….”
What?!
Hi Joe,
It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be rescheduled for this season.
“will withdraw from hosting this year’s F1 Grand Prix race”
Thanks Joe M.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince made the right decision not to have a F1 race. Joe, what chances do you think that this race might be at the end of the racing year?
anyone betting that – with the traditional season opener now reinstated – we end up with Bahrain as the closer?
Who wants that? No-one except Bahrain. I can’t see FOTA agreeing to run the race during the summer break so if it’s postponed, what are the other options?
If it doesn’t fit, then just cancel it.
How far along are the Indians with their track? Perhaps there may be a slot?
Do I hear the sound of chickens coming home to roost?
What a bunch of old fuddy duddies we were, those of us who bemoaned the demise of historic grands prix and the transfer of F1 away from democracies and towards autocracies, as they were the only rulers who could afford FOM’s fees and didn’t have to worry about justifying their actions to the people. It didn’t matter if attendances at the races were tiny, as the rulers were so fabulously wealthy that the races didn’t need to be financially viable. Well this is the result.
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This was bound to happen with F1 chasing after big money venues in the Middle East. The place is and has always been unstable and awkward relations with the west are held together with oil money, including import and export deals. without oil the Middle East would be third world and as far as the West and F1 would be concerned it could blow it’s self to kingdom come.
The people who are rioting against the rich families that have lined their own pockets and kept the people of Bahrain poor and without the right to choose a leader have now exposed the rich Princes and Kings we see being fawned over in their big Tilk folly’s with empty seats by the F1 Bosses and some media as people that are only interested in their own self importance, power and money.
This is why F1 should never have gone there in the first place and instead concentrated on more European races on classic tracks. I have the utmost respect for Bernie but he is now paying the price for a big mistake that a lot of people saw coming.
S.
In reply to Stuart Miller, it’s my understanding that the existing last race of the season already pays extra money for the privilige (in hopes that the championship gets decided at the end, as happened last year). Could be wrong, but I don’t see back-to-back Bahrain GP’s bookending the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Phew…
Good thing the Bahrain government saw some reason and stopped the violence toward its citizens.
Calling off the GP is certainly the only right choice to make right now.
Interestingly could this have long term effects on GPs like China (probably not) and Singapore, or a bit further along the line Sochi?
Seems the region there is also getting into movement for their rights again after seeing they are not alone.
Shaun, Anthony,
How correct you are. Many will accuse you of having terrific hindsight, I willaccuse you of having terrific insight.
Those of us not blinded by money and power could see that courting the autocracies would go wrong one way or another.
Brundle nailled it a while back when he commented that certain people in the F1 paddock were ‘sick with money’.
With respect, posters like Anthony and shaun need to butt out and shut up. People have died here, and what is not needed is smart alec comments based on superficial “understanding” of events. Sorry folks, some things are more important than F1, and more important than feeling superior about whatever culture you may come from.
What the international media overlooks, in its lazy and cliche-ridden attempts to dumb down news to its lowest possible denominator, is that reality is much more complex and messy than they could ever be bothered to understand.
Bahrain is not as simple as the “corrupt autocrats vs. opressed masses” cliche that has riddled coverage (sadly even on this site). It’s a hugely complex issue, with a massive range of opinion, apparently even within the ruling family itself. The Crown Prince is one of the good guys in all this (yes, even if he is one of the “privileged elite”), and was central in bringing the country back from the abyss last Friday night.
The decision to cancel/postpone has to be the right one. There are more important things right now. Hopefully, the situation can be resolved with sense, respect and dialogue, so that when the Bahrain GP comes back, it will be in a stronger, united and reinvigorated country.
Might even satisfy some of the whiter-than-white judgmental posters on here… (though probably not).
Joe – if the Bahrain royalty falls, then perhaps all this talk of a rescheduling is premature?
When one is to close to a tight knit world, insular and self directed; when change and uncertainty blinkers one to the wider perspective; one must step back from political intrigues to view reality, and say, ‘What, another fortnight with no racing?”
Note: this is an attempt at poorly executed satire.
Nelson,
What happens in your country is you and your fellow countrymans business. The posters are just pointing out the cultural divide that exists, therefore it was a bad idea to go to these new markets with F1. This not about your country, its about F1.
What people are upset about is how F1 is used as cash cow and to further political agendas. Take the sport to new markets by all means ,but not those using F1 beyond a sport.
India yes, China no.
well its their loss, think of all that imported cash they are missing out on… i say ban them for good.
Nelson,
I get what you are saying. I have no insight in the situation apart from the media coverage but, as much as I was convinced that the government was going down a very wrong path until Friday, the Crown Prince interview on CNN stopped me in my tracks. He sounded like a very decent fellow, shocked by the turn of events, and determined to take control of the whole thing and make it right. He did not appear like he had a lot to do with what went up until that point. And his decision (although he did not seem to have any real choice in the matter) to cancel the Grand Prix for the time being is the reasonable one, so he seems to have his priorities in the right order.
This is not about Formula 1, but I really would be interested about the inside story of the last week events. We will know eventually, I guess.
to me.. it seemed inevitable that the race would be put off from the first day the unrest started.. i guess it took them so long to decide because of many other (commercial) considerations
Joe,
will the testing session originaly scheduled for next wek be canceled or moved to Jerez or somewhere else?
When they say the GP in Bahrain is “Posponned” does it have a chance at being the closing GP of the season or be added during the August break?
I read somewhere that the Bahrain organisers paid an additional $20M on top of the Bernie fee for the privilege of hosting the opening GP. Does this mean that Bernie is now in Melbourne asking for more?
They are pretty disillusioned in Melbourne with the GP costing the Oz taxpayer A$50M and it’s future looks very short.
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