No Bahrain for 2011posted in F110 | 06 | 2011
THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX will not go ahead this year. Organisers of the event, which was reinstated to the Formula One calendar a week ago and scheduled for October 30, admit they have now given up on their hopes of holding a race this year.
The decision comes in the wake of the outcry from both F1 teams and drivers who formed a united front to condemn the controversial decision by the sport's governing body, the FIA, to reinstate the race. The original race, which should have starts this season in March, was cancelled because of the political unrest which resulted in the deaths of a number of campaigners.
But following a dramatic seven days, chiefs at the Sakhir circuit today acknowledged the race was now definitely off. The inaugural Indian Grand Prix will now return to its original date, October 30.
Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani said that, with teams unhappy about the calendar reshuffle, there was little point in pushing for an event that would lead to problems for F1's competitors.
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"Whilst Bahrain would have been delighted to see the grand prix progress on October 30th in-line with the World Motor Sport Council's decision, it has been made clear that this fixture cannot progress and we fully respect that decision," he said.
"Bahrain has absolutely no desire to see a race which would further extend the calendar season and detract from the enjoyment of F1 for either drivers, teams or supporters. We want our role in Formula 1 to continue to be as positive and constructive as it has always been, therefore, in the best interest of the sport, we will not pursue the rescheduling of a race this season."
F1 team bosses meanwhile are adamant the who situation should have been handled better and many believe the controversy about the attempted rescheduling of the race has been damaging for the sport's image worldwide.
"It's an unfortunate situation," Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner said.
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"Obviously with the way things have been handled, with the uncertainty, maybe it could have been handled better, but we are where we are." His concerns were mirrored by Renault's Eric Boullier, who admitted he felt the sport had been damaged.
"I am a young inexperienced team principal," he said, "but I am pushing hard to do my best to help to build F1 for the future, and obviously it is never good when you get such reactions when things like this happen.
"F1 is a non-political sport. We cannot do whatever we want, because there are issues like this. We need to be a little bit more cautious."
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Craig James
Photo: Getty Images