Recalling the morning after Tony Blair swept to power in 1997, BBC broadcaster Jane Garvey famously said: "I do remember... the corridors of Broadcasting House were strewn with empty champagne bottles. I'll always remember that".

No doubt there were similar scenes in the offices of the numerous PR companies who have been toiling away in recent weeks on behalf of the Bahrain authorities today, as the Grand Prix passed without incident. At least at the circuit.

Away from the track it was a different matter. As the cars raced, thick black smoke could be seen in the distance (above), the FOM cameras as intent on obliterating it from the eyes of the world as they were on Saturday whenever a Force India took to the track.

Hours after the Ministry of Interior announced that it was investigating the death of protestor Salah Abbas Habib Musa, a TV crew from Britain's Channel 4 was arrested and deported.

Later, Hamad Al-Khalifa, Manager of Media and Public Relations at the Bahrain International Circuit issued a statement insisting that contrary to reports elsewhere, the circuit could confirm an attendance of 28,000, while attaching pictures of what was clearly a very busy grandstand.