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Bahrain Grand Prix called off
Topic Started: Feb 21 2011, 08:45 PM (245 Views)
CJ
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A very minor case of serious brain damage

http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6770950/It-s-Official-Bahrain-GP-Is-Called-Off

Due to the protests in Bahrain, the country's Grand Prix (which was due to be the first of the 2011 World Championship) has been postponed. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has made it clear that it hasn't been cancelled entirely, but we don't yet know when it will be held. One date that has been suggested is 6th November, which would put it towards the end of the season.

It's a pity it's been postponed, but probably sensible given the current political climate there.
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Scott
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That sucks, but I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.
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CJ
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A very minor case of serious brain damage

So....they decided to reinstate it, but it caused such a controversy that it eventually had to be called off for a second time. Below is a selection of articles relating to it (but there's a whole load more on that site):

http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6964862/FIA-confirm-Bahrain-s-return
http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6965871/-F1-isn-t-above-social-responsibility-
http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6966738/Max-A-mistake-that-will-cost-F1-dear
http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6969127/Max-Bahrain-GP-unlikely-to-go-ahead
http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6970344/FIA-vice-president-defends-Bahrain-report
http://planetf1.com/driver/3213/6969684/FOTA-call-for-Bahrain-u-turn
http://planetf1.com/driver/18227/6979763/Bahrain-cancellation-applauded

The FIA sent someone over to Bahrain to assess the situation there, and, concluding that everything was back to normal (evidently, they didn't notice the funeral of a woman killed by tear gas, which was taking place while they were having their meeting), tried to reinstate this year's Bahrain Grand Prix on 30th October; this was the date on which the Indian Grand Prix was due to take place, so it had to be moved back to 11th December. They weren't exactly rigorous about it, though: they sent someone who speaks no English (and it is believed that he speaks no Arabic) to walk up and down the streets and speak with Bahraini government officials. They didn't speak to protesters or anything....and then came to the bogus conclusion that Bahrain has "an open government that offers the opposition the chance to speak". If human rights issues weren't involved here, I would have just spent the last couple of days rolling on the floor, laughing at them!

Anyway, a lot of F1 fans and human rights groups were outraged by this decision, as were many of the drivers and teams, not just because of the human rights issues involved, but also because of the logistical nightmare that would have resulted: they were all expecting to be in India then, and had already booked flights, hotels and everything.

Fortunately, Max Mosley (FIA president from 1993 to 2009) then came along and injected some reason, explaining that Bahrain just wanted the race so that they could clean up their image after their bloody crackdown (so, basically, the race would just become an instrument of repression). He also pointed out something else that the FIA seemed to have forgotten: they do not have the power to unilaterally change the Grand Prix calendar mid-season. If they wish to do so, they must obtain a unanimous agreement from all the teams. The teams didn't agree, and instead, urged the FIA to cancel the re-arranged Bahrain Grand Prix once again. In the face of such immense pressure, they had no choice but to cancel it.

This is all very sad, really. Formula One had an excellent opportunity to take a clear stance on human rights issues, but instead, they made a complete hash of it. It's been a PR disaster for Formula One, which has seen F1 officialdom accused of putting profits before human rights. This has been Jean Todt's first major mess-up as FIA President; I just hope it's also the last....
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