26/04/2012
NEWS STORY
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Mat Coch writes
Reports that Force India did not take part in the second practice session in Bahrain for financial reasons have been all but laughed off by the team.
In the build up to the Grand Prix weekend a Molotov cocktail exploded near a van carrying Force India mechanics, with one staff member choosing to return to England rather than remain in the Gulf state.
The team then elected not to run the afternoon practice session on Friday so it could leave the circuit in daylight rather than heading back to Manama after dark. These are the 'logistical reasons' the team cited in its press release.
During qualifying the team appeared to be punished for its stance on Friday as it received no television coverage, a point which caused open criticism of Formula One Management in the media. The point was addressed for the race however the latest rumours suggest the team is still paying for putting the welfare of its staff first.
Rumour and innuendo has now spread, presumably by excitable journalists reading too much in to comments made by Bernie Ecclestone. The sport's commercial boss insinuated that the safety of its staff was perhaps not the real reason Force India elected not to run leading many outlets to run baseless stories alleging financial problems.
Contacted by Pitpass a spokesman for the team refuted the claims, dismissing them with a barely suppressed laugh. Instead the team maintains 'logistical reasons' prevented it taking part in the session - nothing more, nothing less.
Force India will head to Mugello to take part in the official three-day test starting on Tuesday. It's a move not in keeping with a team looking to pinch a few pennies.