Bahrain Grand Prix in doubt as tension rises

With the political tension increasing in Bahrain on Thurday, FIA’s concerns about the Bahrain Grand Prix and pre-event test are also rising. According to reports, yesterday’s violence resulted in at least five deaths.

At Bahrain’s capital Manama, the authorities of the Gulf country made an overnight move to clear protesters, which resulted in violent clashes that killed at least four people. Other two protesters had already been killed earlier this week.

The mounting tension and the response by the government with heavy police and military presence on the streets of Bahrain’s capital has already put everyone asking if there will be conditions for the opening race of the season to take place on March 13 as scheduled.

Bernie Ecclestonse is also worried as the leader of a campaign group in Bahrain has also announced that the grand prix would be used to publicise its cause.

Yesterday the opening day of track of the GP2 Asia Series event in Bahrain had to be postponed as the medical personnel were called to help the injured in Manama.

With teams scheduled to fly to Bahrain for the final pre-season test that takes place from March 3-6, F1 authorities have a little more than one week to decide whether the current situation will be forcing F1 schedule to be changed.

On that matter, FIA president Jean Todt said on Wednesday, before the latest developments in Manama, that decisions would only be taken after this weekend's GP2 Asia race.

“I always try not to over-react on breaking stories,” Todt was quoted as saying by the Irish Independent during a visit to Dublin. “Number one, you have to check what is the reality - which is not always what you hear - and to react without too much emotion and to face properly the problem.”

There might also be problems coming from Bahrain itself, as the country might not want to have the world's media coming to the Gulf state with that kind of political trouble. Insurance companies may also oppose themselves to having the star drivers to the country and may even refuse to cover other F1 staff if foreign consular recommend that their nationals do not go there.

Authorities of the Bahrain Grand Prix pointed the safety of all visitors as I priority for the event.

Bahrain International Circuit CEO, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, said: "The safety of all Bahraini nationals, expats and overseas visitors is a priority at all times in the Kingdom and, at the Bahrain International Circuit, our focus at the present time is on delivering another successful event in the form of the 2011 Gulf Air Formula 1Bahrain Grand Prix.”

"We are monitoring the situation very closely indeed in association with the relevant authorities, and will respond appropriately to any further developments."