Bahrain GP: “We’re all hoping the FIA calls it off”

An unnamed F1 team principal has said the teams don’t want to race in Bahrain later this month. The Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for 22 April, the weekend after the Chinese GP.

The unidentified team boss told The Guardian: “I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain. If I’m brutally frank, the only way they can pull this race off without incident is to have a complete military lockdown there. And I think that would be unacceptable, both for F1 and for Bahrain. But I don’t see any other way they can do it.”

To this point the teams had, at least publicly, supported the FIA and its decision to race in the troubled Gulf state. But with new reports of more violence, which left seven Bahraini policeman injured, three seriously, the time has come for those inside F1 to share their thoughts.

If nothing else you’d think someone had the guts to condemn Bernie Ecclestone who described the attack on authorities as, “a lot of kids having a go at the police. I don’t think it’s anything serious at all.”

Our anonymous team principal added: “We’re all hoping the FIA calls it off. From a purely legal point of view, in terms of insurance and government advice, we are clear to go.

“But what we find worrying is that there are issues happening every day.

“We have a lot of people. Our first and foremost priority has to be our employees. And their families.

“That’s what concerns us most, even though we’ve not said anything about it. It seems to me that while there has been some political progress in Bahrain they’re not quite ready. The best thing would be for the race to be postponed until later in the year, or even cancelled.”

You know what, it’s great that one team principal has spoken out. But it would be even greater if that person agreed to be identified. If he truly stands by the damning comments made to The Guardian he should be willing to take the lead and own those opinions.

He claims his views are shared by the other teams. Is the wrath of Bernie Ecclestone so great that concerns for the welfare of others must be so callously put to one side in fear of commercial recrimination (if that’s what it is)?

Perhaps behind the insular walls of the F1 paddock the identity of this team principal is known. But, whoever you are, stand up. Put your name to your comments. The time for silence has passed.

[Source: The Guardian | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]