Despite ongoing anti-government protesters, the race was
restored to the F1 calendar for Oct. 30 after a vote by the World Motor Sport
Council last week. It was originally scheduled as the season-opener in March.
“The way things are at the moment, we have no idea what is
going to happen,” Ecclestone is quoted as saying in Tuesday's editions of The
Times of London. “Better that we move Bahrain to the end of the season and, if
things are safe and well, then that is fine, we can go. If they are not, then
we don't go and there are no problems.” At least 30 people have been killed
since February in the unrest.
“We listened to that report from the FIA (governing body)
and that was saying there were no problems at all in Bahrain,” Ecclestone said.
“But that is not what I am hearing and I think we can see that we need to be
careful.” Ecclestone said the $40 million fee that F1 collects from Bahrain for
having the race “makes no difference” to the decision.
“If there is no race, we will return it, but money is not
the issue here,” Ecclestone said. “It is whether it is safe and good to have a
race, that is the issue. We can change this Oct. 30 date by having a vote by
fax if necessary. It can be done, and fast.” Former FIA President Max Mosley
fears the rulers of Bahrain would use the grand prix “to try and give the
impression that all is well in the country, when it's very far from the truth.”
“So it almost becomes an instrument of the regime in oppressing the people who
are being badly treated,” Mosley said on BBC radio. “That's when I think it
goes beyond what you can accept as a sporting body.” But Mosley does not
believe there is “the slightest chance” the race will go ahead this year.
The inaugural Indian GP, which was originally scheduled for
Oct. 30, is now set to be the final round of the 20-race calendar.
“You cannot change the calendar, in the way it has been
proposed, without the unanimous agreement of the teams,” Mosley said. “The
(World Motor Sport) council organizes the event, but if there is going to be a
change, for example moving the Indian event, there has to be unanimous
agreement. It's absolutely part of the rules.
“So
until written agreement of the teams is forthcoming, you can't actually change
the date.”
