FIA confirms Bahrain

April 12, 2012 by Joe Saward

The FIA has issued the following press release:

“The FIA is the governing body of motor sport and therefore of Formula One. As such, it sets the season’s calendars following the proposal of the Commercial Rights Holder (CRH) in accordance with the local national authorities in all matters relating to safety.

“Within that context, the FIA ensures that any event forming part of an FIA World Championship is organised in compliance with the FIA Statutes and the relevant Sporting and Technical Regulations, and that the safety of the public, officials, drivers and teams is secured at all times during an event.

“The FIA must make rational decisions based on the information provided to us by the Bahraini authorities and by the Commercial Rights Holder. In addition we have endeavoured to assess the ongoing situation in Bahrain.

“President Jean Todt led a fact-finding mission to the Kingdom in November 2011, meeting a large number of decision-makers and opinion formers, including elected Shia members of parliament, the president of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, ambassadors from the European Union countries, the Crown Prince, the Interior Minister and many members of the business community.

“All expressed their wish for the Grand Prix to go ahead in 2012, and since then, the FIA has kept in close touch with all these stakeholders. Away from the public eye, the FIA has received regular security briefings from the most senior diplomatic officials based in the Kingdom as well as from other independent experts.

“The 2012 calendar, as presented by the CRH, was ratified by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in September 2011. Since then no request from the F1 Commission or the CRH has been made to the WMSC to either postpone or cancel the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“Based on the current information the FIA has at this stage, it is satisfied that all the proper security measures are in place for the running of a Formula One World Championship event in Bahrain.

“Therefore, the FIA confirms that the 2012 Gulf Air F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain will go ahead as scheduled.”

This is all well and good. If the race goes ahead without any drama then all will be well. If it goes horribly wrong then the FIA will have to shoulder the responsibility for that.

Red Bull's Mark Webber has expressed some misgivings about the prospect of racing in Bahrain.

Formula 1 is scheduled to return to the Gulf state next weekend, despite continuing civil unrest.

Webber echoed most leading figures in saying it was for governing body, the FIA, to decide if the race should go ahead - but admitted he had concerns.

"Clearly there are some massive decisions to be made," the Australian said. "Let's hope it goes well."

“There is no beating about the bush, it is sensitive out there, we get lots of view points from there, both sides”

Mark Webber

He added: "If we have a choice…I want to race, and I would like to go there and do that. But you cannot ignore the fact there are a lot of good people in our sport and all of them have in the back of their minds that we want it to go down smoothly and we don't want to be involved with the situation that's out there."

The teams are to have a meeting with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone on Friday at the Chinese Grand Prix, where Bahrain is expected to be discussed.

Webber said: "There is no beating about the bush, it is sensitive out there, we get lots of view points from there, both sides. I get constantly reminded on Twitter.


"If there was no social networking, it would be interesting to see what the situation would be. But we can only go on what the FIA are reading into the situation.

"Obviously we are putting an immense amount of trust into the FIA - I'm not talking about the drivers, I'm talking about you guys (the media), photographers, catering everybody going to and from that track each day. Competing at that track and having a normal grand prix weekend is what we would all love to see. "

The Australian, 35, said that Red Bull had planned extra security for the Bahrain weekend, but said: "I accept not everyone can have that and that doesn't make me feel comfortable."

Bahrain pays one of the largest fees for its race, is influential within the FIA and is a 50% shareholder of McLaren.

Asked whether he was confident the right decision would be made for the right reasons, Webber said: "A sensational question.

"We all know why it might have dragged a bit. It's like that. There's a lot of funding and finances that have come from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and the Middle East.

“For teams it's a tricky situation because they need to know by a certain date whether to send equipment. For drivers, we just have to change our flight ticket”

Kimi Raikkonen Lotus driver

"They're very excited about F1 and they clearly want to give it another go. Let's see if it works."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was one of several leading figures who said he would leave it up to the FIA to decide the best course of action.

"I don't really have any position," said Hamilton. "I don't feel it's my place or anyone else's place to comment. We have to wait for the FIA for their decision."

Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button added: "Some will be outspoken, some won't. Some can be, some can't. We have to look to the FIA.

"Hopefully they know all the facts and will make the right call. We have to stay united. To say the teams can decide is wrong."

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn said: "It's very difficult for us to make a judgement, so we rely on people who are on the ground and should know what's going on to make that judgement. We look to the FIA and FOM to guide us."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner added: "We enter a championship to do all the races. Bahrain still very much on my calendar. Our plans are to travel to Bahrain unless somebody from the governing body tells us differently."

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen said: "For teams it's a tricky situation because they need to know by a certain date whether to send equipment. For drivers, we just have to change our flight ticket."