Eccelstone puts Moral Choice Squarely on FIA Teams Shoulders

Protest over the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix
10 April, 2012 – Business and Human Rights Resource Center

Human rights groups have urged Formula One teams to consider boycotting the Bahrain Grand Prix in April 2012. Nabeel Rajab, Vice president for Bahrain Center for Human Rights has said: “We would prefer it if they [the teams] didn’t take part. I am sure the drivers and teams respect human rights.” Human Rights Watch has said: “[The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile] should consider the serious abuse of human rights in Bahrain and the fact that to this day authorities continue to suppress pro-democracy protests.”

On 10 April 2012, Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that the decision on whether to take part is now up to each team: “Commercially they have to go, but whether they decide to or not is up to them”.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is inviting each team to respond to these concerns about the race. Below are the names of the teams followed by the items we are asking them to respond to. We will indicate next to each company at the latest by Wednesday 18 April whether or not each responded, and how it responded.

McLaren-Mercedes
Red Bull Racing-Renault
Ferrari
Sauber-Ferrari
Lotus-Renault
Force India-Mercedes
Williams-Renault
STR-Ferrari
Mercedes
Marussia-Cosworth
Caterham-Renault
HRT-Cosworth

We are also inviting the Formula One Group and its owners to respond:

Formula One Group of Companies
CVC Capital Partners
JP Morgan
…source