Bahrain Grand Prix – Formula One

A lot of confusion and debate stormed the Formula One world, last few weeks with the decision of holding the Bahrain Grand Prix. Due to the civil unrest in the region, the race was initially called off only to be reinstated by the FIA officials last month. FIA officials had assessed the situation in the region recently and had suggested that the situation has improved and stabilized, giving the green signal for the Bahrain GP.

Most of the teams and their drivers seemed to be unhappy with this decision by the FIA. The chief of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, who initially was in favor of the FIA’s call of putting the Bahrain GP back on calendar, looking at the team’s stance on the situation and their unwillingness, now seemed to do a U-turn on his opinion and has been against the Bahrain GP since.

No doubt, it is a huge blow for Bahrain as Formula One race is a pretty big event. The race in the region would have helped in reviving the rather pale economic condition of the country. It would have also helped promote tourism, but having said that, it is not Formula One, who should lead such social reforms and ethics, at the expense of the teams and their drivers.

Max Mosley, the former head of world motorsport, said the sport would suffer enormous damage if the race took place, while Mark Webber has been the only driver who has expressed his concern with putting the Bahrain GP back into this year’s race calendar. He has been given a lot of credit and has been appreciated for his open stance against this sensitive issue. There is a constant threat for the teams and as well as the spectators who will fill the stands. Adding to that, the added burden of another race to the already long season, was something that none of the teams wanted. With all drivers and teams united on this issue, meant that FIA had no other option, but to call it off once again.

This would mean that Indian GP is back again on the initially scheduled date of 30th Oct.  The officials of the Indian GP seem to be unstirred by all these changes. They seem to have not received any official change of date form the FIA or Formula One officials hence they were anyways looking at a race day as initially scheduled. This also means that Brazil will host the final race of the season, as per the original calendar schedule.

Tags: Bahrain GP, Bahrain Grand Prix, F1, FIA, Formula One, Motor Sports, Motorsports