09/05/2011
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
The FIA may have thrown the Bahrain Grand Prix a lifeline in the last week, however, the event's future is far from certain. Scheduled to be the first race of the 2011 season, the race was initially postponed due to civil unrest ahead of an FIA decision on the event.
Due on May 1, that decision was not the decisive one many had hoped for. Instead of a categoric outcome the FIA chose to effectively sit on the fence, giving the Gulf nation yet more time to deal with the unrest. Meanwhile, reports received by Pitpass suggested that while the government claimed calm had returned to the nation, the reality was that the unrest continued.
Yet despite this FIA President Jean Todt held a press conference in Turkey suggesting that the event still has a place on the 2011 Formula One calendar. "We completely sympathise with the problems that are happening, and we all understand that it would not have been possible to keep the grand prix as the first race of the championship," said the Frenchman.
"Fortunately things have improved, but they were not in a position to commit definitely - and I had a discussion with Bernie (Ecclestone), with the government, with the ASN, and they asked us if we would accept one more month, which means until the next World Council on June 3, which I accepted.
"I think if you are in a difficult situation, you need support," he continued. "That is our responsibility. We need to give some support and it will penalise nobody to have a final answer by June 3."
Charles Braithwaite, a partner at law firm Collyer Bristow, disagrees. "There are obviously commercial reasons as to why the FIA and Bahrain - as well as the various sponsors - would wish to bring the event back into the F1 calendar," he says.
His position is supported by Pitpass business editor Chris Sylt, who suggests that the commercial rights holder could stand to lose as much as $40m if the event doesn't go ahead.
"There is obviously a lot for everyone involved in the sport to consider but a decision will need to be taken quickly," Braithwaite adds. "It is clearly unsatisfactory for teams and drivers to have uncertainty as to the number of races in the championship, and therefore the number of potential points available."
Todt assures us, however, that the situation in Bahrain has improved. "I have information that in Bahrain fortunately it is peaceful," he told reporters on Sunday. His comments would appear to contradict reports received from the Gulf nation that suggest the situation, while having dropped out of the headlines, is far from resolved.
In late April, Bahrain International Circuit CEO, Sheik Salman bin Isa al-Khalifa stated that "security has prevailed and normal life has returned to Bahrain." Just days later however, activists posted an open letter on social networking site Facebook, imploring FOM boss Bernie Ecclestone to cancel the event. "We're asking you to reconsider hosting the Grand Prix of Bahrain until basic human rights and freedom are restored," it read.
"M. Todt has to make a fairly simple moral call this week," it continues, "does he, as head of the FIA and its standard bearer, support the detention and torture of doctors and nurses who treat the injured."
His reign, highlighted by his absence from the headlines, the unrest in Bahrain, coupled with his comments in Turkey, have thrust President Todt firmly into the limelight. While the FIA monitors the situation many had hoped for more decisive action from the governing body.