Bahrain postpones GPposted in F121 | 02 | 2011

BAHRAIN HAS taken the brave, but sensible decision not to host the opening grand prix of the 2011 Formula One season on March 13. The announcement comes after days of uncertainty following the political unrest and killings in the country.

The decision means the F1 teams will also not travel to Bahrain for the final four-day pre-season test scheduled for Bahrain from March 3; instead the teams will now return to the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona from March 8-11.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone received a phone call from the Crown Prince of Bahrain this afternoon confirming the decision by the Sakhir race track organisers.

"We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest," Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa said.

"Bahrain's priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together to remind the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united."

The Bahrain Grand Prix is fully expected to be rescheduled in the F1 calendar for later in the year, and it now means that the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 27 will be the opening race of the season.

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Jim McGill