Bahrain - What a rubbish place to start a Championship!

[CoopsII]

This is all getting rather silly now...

Thats one way of putting it, if this goes ahead we ought to call it the 2012 Morally Repugnant Grand Prix of Bahrain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17657775

[Backmarker]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain. What if we had a four car grand prix? Even more of a farce than the US Grand Prix of course, but what if HRT were two of those four cars?

[Klon]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain. What if we had a four car grand prix? Even more of a farce than the US Grand Prix of course, but what if HRT were two of those four cars?

It would be glorious - Karthikeyan on the podium, wouldn't it be a joy?

[CoopsII]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain.

Not sure where you get 10 from as every where Ive looked all teams are said to be unhappy about it.

[dr-baker]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain. What if we had a four car grand prix? Even more of a farce than the US Grand Prix of course, but what if HRT were two of those four cars?

Even more so if Marussia were the other team!

[Wizzie]

Teams can't be forced to race, says Bernie

[DanielPT]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain. What if we had a four car grand prix? Even more of a farce than the US Grand Prix of course, but what if HRT were two of those four cars?

I am pretty sure that one of those teams is Ferrari. Their morals (or lack of) are well known. Given that are essentially the British and British teams that are voicing their disapproval in going to Bahrain (and leading the group of voiced concerns) then one must assume that the other one outside of the concerned 10 teams is not based on Britain. They can be Toro Rosso, Sauber or HRT. The odds are good!

[DanielPT]

Teams can't be forced to race, says Bernie

The sneaky Bernie is playing his game now, leaving the fault on the shoulder of others which is amazing since he does the contracts with the circuits...

[Wizzie]

Teams can't be forced to race, says Bernie

The sneaky Bernie is playing his game now, leaving the fault on the shoulder of others which is amazing since he does the contracts with the circuits...

He probably doesn't care what happens with the race as long as the Bahrainis pay up on their $50 million* a year race fee

*It's the figure that I heard last year and has stuck to memory since so don't take my word for it.

[GwilymJJames]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain. What if we had a four car grand prix? Even more of a farce than the US Grand Prix of course, but what if HRT were two of those four cars?

I am pretty sure that one of those teams is Ferrari. Their morals (or lack of) are well known. Given that are essentially the British and British teams that are voicing their disapproval in going to Bahrain (and leading the group of voiced concerns) then one must assume that the other one outside of the concerned 10 teams is not based on Britain. They can be Toro Rosso, Sauber or HRT. The odds are good!

Aren't McLaren 50% owned by the Bahraini royal family? Might they be one of the teams wanting to go?

[Wizzie]

Apparently 10 of the 12 teams have voiced some opposition to going to Bahrain. What if we had a four car grand prix? Even more of a farce than the US Grand Prix of course, but what if HRT were two of those four cars?

I am pretty sure that one of those teams is Ferrari. Their morals (or lack of) are well known. Given that are essentially the British and British teams that are voicing their disapproval in going to Bahrain (and leading the group of voiced concerns) then one must assume that the other one outside of the concerned 10 teams is not based on Britain. They can be Toro Rosso, Sauber or HRT. The odds are good!

Aren't McLaren 50% owned by the Bahraini royal family? Might they be one of the teams wanting to go?

Wanting to go? I'll probably be willing to bet McLaren would be dragged kicking and screaming to the Bahrain GP if the teams had the choice as to whether they want to go or not

[DanielPT]

I am pretty sure that one of those teams is Ferrari. Their morals (or lack of) are well known. Given that are essentially the British and British teams that are voicing their disapproval in going to Bahrain (and leading the group of voiced concerns) then one must assume that the other one outside of the concerned 10 teams is not based on Britain. They can be Toro Rosso, Sauber or HRT. The odds are good!

Aren't McLaren 50% owned by the Bahraini royal family? Might they be one of the teams wanting to go?

Wanting to go? I'll probably be willing to bet McLaren would be dragged kicking and screaming to the Bahrain GP if the teams had the choice as to whether they want to go or not

Well then, that could make Ferrari and McLaren the teams not minding to go...

[CoopsII]

Wanting to go? I'll probably be willing to bet McLaren would be dragged kicking and screaming to the Bahrain GP if the teams had the choice as to whether they want to go or not

Lets not be naive, if it wasnt for the adverse publicity it would attract all the teams would turn up in Bahrain and race.

[Ferrim]

We need one team, maybe two, announcing they will boycott the Bahrain race. Then the rest will do the same, or at least a number big enough that the race will have to be cancelled anyway.

The problem is managing to convince one of them to do so.

[Klon]

For the love of HWNSNBM, please fast forward life so I don't miss anything but these 12 days of politic cowfeces have an end.

[jackanderton]

Bahrain - What a rubbish place

Fixed.

[Svenko Wankerov]

We need one team, maybe two, announcing they will boycott the Bahrain race. Then the rest will do the same, or at least a number big enough that the race will have to be cancelled anyway.

The problem is managing to convince one of them to do so.

Surprised McLaren hasn't done it yet, they represent everything that is phony and pretentious Anglo morality that they would be shameless enough to do it on "moral" grounds.

Woking would never let all that Bahraini money get in the way of their morals, would they?

[DanielPT]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11042012/58/bahrain-organisers-race-ahead.html

1 - Glad we have somebody who tells F1 what to do.

2 -

If the acts of sabotage don't cease in the next 24 hours and the appropriate measures aren't taken, the Youth of Riffa will intervene with firearms against every traitor to the homeland. Any traitor carrying out sabotage will be caught and decisively tortured to death.

If this is Bahrain back to normal, what is it when it is not normal?

[CoopsII]

If the acts of sabotage don't cease in the next 24 hours and the appropriate measures aren't taken, the Youth of Riffa will intervene with firearms against every traitor to the homeland. Any traitor carrying out sabotage will be caught and decisively tortured to death.

ROTR anyone?

[East Londoner]

Best to call it off and get Bahrain off the calendar permantely methinks. This race surely cannot take place.

[Barbazza]

Given the ruling that means a race being cancelled 2 years running annuls any contract with the organisers, and that Bernie has a lot of potential tracks queueing up with not many slots available now, I think we can assume that we will get another day or two of Bernie accentuating the positives to make it look like he's not being sneaky, and then 'accidentally on purpose' deciding that he's going to cancel it after all....

[Yannick]

The Bahrain GP off/on trouble has tremenduously helped Bernie in his campaign for last year's F1 Reject Of the Year award, but just like every year before that, he lost out against Williams. So why should he not try to start his campaign again with that this year? Scoring a 6'05" time in qualifying for the 1958 Monaco GP surely is not good enough to win an "F1 Reject Of the Year" award in the 2010s.

[Sublime_FA11C]

I'm very much confused by this still being an issue.

If the race goes ahead it hurts F1.

If the race is cancelled or postponed, it can only be seen as a reasonable and justified move.

The race should have been canned ages ago with a possible inclusion in the calendar if the situation turns out to be satisfactory. Instead the race got included with the posibility of being cancelled at the last minute. Very bad planning, and in fact almost asking for it.

EDIT - Actually the only positive is that this way F1 gets a lot of publicity and has the option of 'doing the right thing' just before sponsors get nervous about being involved in such a mess.

[AndreaModa]

EDIT - Actually the only positive is that this way F1 gets a lot of publicity and has the option of 'doing the right thing' just before sponsors get nervous about being involved in such a mess.

Which was pretty much what happened last year. Everyone indulged in a bit of self-congratulation. I really can't see it happening though, and I'm almost certain we won't race at Bahrain again after this, when you consider all the tracks lining up for calender slots, someone's gonna get replaced, and this is an easy event to knock of the calender - Bernie doesn't even need to give a reason for it.

[FMecha]

One of the reason that F1 morality thread should be reopened, IMO.

Discuss

[S951]

pushing aside the awfulness of the track f1 can not race there whilst there is still no guarantee of safety

[dr-baker]

One of the reason that F1 morality thread should be reopened, IMO.

Discuss

I really don't see how it could be a dilemma if everybody involved were sane. They really want to go to Bahrain? No? Then don't go. Nobody is holding a gun to your head, forcing you to go....

[Yannick]

I remember the pre-season test session that occured at the Sakhir International Circuit a few years back with Ferrari, Toyota and BMW-Sauber participating, only to be met by a sandstorm and thus, no usable on track time at all and lots of travel expenses. Something like this could have happened there anytime, also on a GP weekend. So why not just call it off due to bad weather to save face in front of all the Bahraini government sponsors involved in the sport?

[AndreaModa]

BBC Five Live F1's Twitter account has just tweeted that the FIA have announced the Bahrain GP WILL go ahead as planned!

https://twitter.com/#!/5LiveF1/status/190577752682926081

and continued here

https://twitter.com/#!/5LiveF1/status/190577893338923011

Wow. Quite a decision!

[Wizzie]

One of the reason that F1 morality thread should be reopened, IMO.

Discuss

I really don't see how it could be a dilemma if everybody involved were sane. They really want to go to Bahrain? No? Then don't go. Nobody is holding a gun to your head, forcing you to go....

Erm... on a technicality for the teams, yes there is. From memory, there are multi-million dollar fines involved if teams don't participate on race weekends unless the race has been cancelled or something extraordinary happens.

[Wizzie]

If anyone's watching the Sky coverage right now, note that Martin Brundle looks like he clearly doesn't want to go anywhere near Bahrain next week.

Bernie's interview after the meeting though was pure gold

[East Londoner]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98752

Wow. Just wow.

I'm now sort of glad my job is on a Sunday, as it means I won't have to watch this clusterbathplug of a 'race'. I get the horrible feeling something bad is gonna happen that weekend, and I don't want to witness it.

[dr-baker]

Let's give the BBC a little bit of credit here - it is one of the races that they are NOT showing live...

[CoopsII]

I get the horrible feeling something bad is gonna happen that weekend, and I don't want to witness it.

What like? Both HRTs crashing into each other?

I am surprised its going ahead, I think its a mistake.

[AndreaModa]

Let's give the BBC a little bit of credit here - it is one of the races that they are NOT showing live...

But I want to see it live now!

I agree though, it's going to blow up in their faces big time if what activist groups have said is to be believed.

[DanielPT]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98752

Wow. Just wow.

I'm now sort of glad my job is on a Sunday, as it means I won't have to watch this clusterbathplug of a 'race'. I get the horrible feeling something bad is gonna happen that weekend, and I don't want to witness it.

So, F1 is preparing to Bazooka themselves in the foot. Great... I sure hope nothing happens.

[CoopsII]

it's going to blow up in their faces big time if what activist groups have said is to be believed.

I dont rate their chances. Unlike in, say, Syria, the Bahrain protestors are lacking in numbers and militia-style organisation so I doubt any effort would penetrate the ring of steel errected around next weeks bring-your-family sporting event. Theres always the chance of some loon running onto the track but once the new security measures have been implemented you'd have a better chance of that at another circuit. There may well be trouble away from the track but I reckon the majority of the F1 personnel will be quite safe, which cant be said for those protesting.

[DanielPT]

it's going to blow up in their faces big time if what activist groups have said is to be believed.

I dont rate their chances. Unlike in, say, Syria, the Bahrain protestors are lacking in numbers and militia-style organisation so I doubt any effort would penetrate the ring of steel errected around next weeks bring-your-family sporting event. Theres always the chance of some loon running onto the track but once the new security measures have been implemented you'd have a better chance of that at another circuit. There may well be trouble away from the track but I reckon the majority of the F1 personnel will be quite safe, which cant be said for those protesting.

I can already imagine any activist who managed to infiltrate the circuit perimeter being snipped in front of the cameras. It might be perfectly normal in war ravaged and used to violence countries but in the puritan western civilization it will not be viewed kindly.

[deivison]

Bernie Ecclestone old mercenary, you only care about money.

http://noticias.portalsportszone.com.br/not74.htm

Spread it around the world.

[IdeFan]

I am now very worried that something is going to kick off during the race, they've had bombings in recent days and it seems ridiculous to me that the race is still on.