Bahrain Grad Prix stalled due to human rights embarassment

Bahrain F1 race in Oct a mistake, says Brawn
By Joanne Bladd – Monday, 23 May 2011 9:56 AM

The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled to be the F1 season-opener on March 13, but was cancelled in February as protests spread across the kingdom

The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled to be the F1 season-opener on March 13, but was cancelled in February as protests spread across the kingdom

A possible plan to host Bahrain’s postponed Grand Prix in October has been branded a step too far by Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn.

The suggestion by F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone that the Indian Grand Prix could be pushed to a season-ending slot in December to reinstate Bahrain would be an unacceptable stress on the teams and their drivers, said Brawn.

“You have to remember they have been going since the end of January,” Brawn told sports website Autosport.com. “I think to take them through to December and then get them going again at the end of January, we won’t sustain it. We won’t keep the people – they will get fed up, their families will get fed up and it will all prove to be too much.”

India’s first Grand Prix is due to be held at a circuit near New Delhi, with Abu Dhabi and Brazil the last two races.

Speaking at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday, 80-year-old Ecclestone said he was undecided over whether to reinstate the Bahrain race.

“Everything’s possible. We could do [move the Delhi race to the end of the season], yeah,” he added. “I’m not sure at the moment what I’m going to do. Everything’s up in the air. I haven’t decided about it. We’ll see if we have to go to Bahrain.” …more