Eccelstone dumps ‘torturous’ moral choice on Team, Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, Others

“Now F1, plus Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and every other team will be directly linked with a bloody crackdown that’s ruined the lives of hundreds of innocent people.”

Teams see red as the Bahrain GP gets a green light
Saturday, 4 June 2011

The Formula One teams appear to be on a collision course with the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone after yesterday’s contentious decision regarding the rescheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix. It is understood no team is interested in racing in Bahrain on October 30 this year, the date voted for by the World Motor Sport Council following their meeting in Barcelona.

The pressure is on the teams to make a stand, with a human rights group claiming the WMSC decision is “a kick in the teeth for the Bahraini people”.

Pro-democracy demonstrations earlier this year led to the deaths of 30 people, with hundreds of protesters detained, many of whom still remain in custody, and the cancellation of the race.

Bahrain has since lobbied hard for their grand prix to return to the calendar, despite the apparent ongoing oppression of their people.

However, with martial law no longer in place, Al Jazeera television on Thursday showed protesters who had bravely returned to the streets being fired upon with tear gas and rubber bullets by Bahraini police.

As further incitement, one woman was killed by the tear gas, with her funeral held yesterday and attended by hundreds of mourners. …more