Cancellation to advert Moral Stain on respected tradition of Grand Prix

Damon Hill urges Bernie Ecclestone not to reschedule Bahrain Grand Prix

Damon Hill, the 1996 F1 world champion, along his son Joshua and wife Georgie arrive at the UK premier of the movie Senna. Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Damon Hill has asked Formula One to take a moral stance on the eve of the World Motor Sport council meeting’s decision on the fate of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was cancelled in March because of civil unrest.

Following comments from the sport’s commercial-rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, who in a recent CNN interview said the problem in the world today was “too many over-educated people”, Hill said: “We cannot duck this issue.”

Hill, the 1996 F1 world champion and the president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, which will host next month’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, added: “Formula One cannot put its head in the sand concerning the Bahrain Grand Prix because it is a very volatile situation out there and F1 is involved.

“I am not a spokesman for Formula One. But I am surprised and disappointed that there is a lack of intelligent comment coming from the sport at a time when we should be trying to promote it in a positive way, a way which recognises human values.”

Hill, the son of the two-time F1 world champion Graham, has always been concerned about the image of the sport and he added: “Formula One, its teams, its drivers and its sponsors, has to stand for values which are positive and aspirational. …more