The Grand Prix In Bahrain

losthorizon

I am convinced The Grand Prix in Bahrain wont and Should not take place in Bahrain in a few weeks time. The majority of people are Shi''ite. Yet they have virtually no say in the running of their own country which is run by a sunni minority. Democracy is only a veneer. Now the Grand Prix is going to be targeted and even though I am a huge motorsports fan, rightly so.

I dont thing a team like Red Bull will turn up while people are being shot outside the circuit. The problem existed last season and it wont go away you know. Sorry Bernie, but you are dealing with monsters.




http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/24/bahrain-clashes-idUSL6E8EO0FZ20120324

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/321747

Cookie_Monster

I hope it's not on cos it's a ****e track

amacachi

Careful now with the politics. :pac:

Bernie's brushing off any threats and the teams haven't come forward with any concerns yet so who knows? It'll be down to the teams ultimately.

Robbo

I'd love for someone to dig deeper and ask what's the end game.

Stage 1: Spend hundreds of millions on an event with nowhere near the return ever foreseeable.
Stage 2: ????
Stage 3: PROFIT!

It's the Man City business model which has been suggested before as a means of laundering oil money in anticipation of a complete collapse in production, decades in advance of when it's forecasted.

Myrddin

The race is terrible, Sheikh's day out

losthorizon

Apparently the head of the Bahrain Automobile Federation has said that he cant guarantee fans safety



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17526861

Note: since I put in the link the story has completely changed. The BBC website had him saying the exact opposite an hour ago. Bernie strikes.

freestyla

Death amid 'Bloody F1' protests in Bahrain
http://sports.in.msn.com/formulaone/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5985228

but Bernie is stubborn isn't he..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17541483

Grim.

its really a pitty the muggers didn't finish the little twat off that time

Infoanon

Contingency plans apparently in place in case the race is cancelled - which has gone from possible to probable over the last few days.
A 'protester' (reported elsewhere he was merely filming the protest) was killed by police at the weekend.
Bernie will try to hold out as long as possible but I would not be surprised of the race is cancelled during the Chineese GP weekend

losthorizon

Right, the BBC website is reporting that F1 GP teams are expecting the Bahrain GP to be cancelled.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17676140

If they want to keep the Grand Prix in the same region they could always give it to Qatar. Although I dont know if that track is certified for F1 cars.

Imola is certified if they just want to keep the calendar at the same amount of races.

On a totally different side note maybe they should make a contingency plan for the US GP as well as that track isnt even built yet.

amacachi

So that'll be a 4 week gap and a 5 week gap in the season. Idiots.

smellslikeshoes

I personally think it should never have been scheduled this year. It would make sense that protests etc would flare up again with the worlds eyes on Bahrain coming up to the GP.

As far as contingency plans/replacement etc. goes if it's cancelled, I very much doubt it. These things are planned way in advance, I just don't think it's possible. The logistics alone of getting the teams to the grid of a track that wasn't in the list at the start would make it infeasible, never-mind all the planning and prep that would be needed around the track.

I hope I'm wrong though, if Bahrain is cancelled this year it will have robbed us all of potentially 2 good races. Even if it does go ahead this year I hope it's not on the calender for next year, there's enough countries wanting in to not have to deal with these sort of problems.

losthorizon

Apparently the reason they were willing to give them another go is beacuse Bahrain pays a huge fee for the GP, has a lot of power in the FIA and is a 50% shareholder in Mclaren.

StephenHendry

going ahead according to the beeb this morning. they were saying it will happen unless something happens this week !!!

losthorizon

Williams have sacked a member of their catering staff who has refused to go to Bahrain on moral grounds. A 15 year old boy was shot this weekend by police at a funeral of another protester and is in hospital in a critical condition.

I noticed the Beeb asked Jean Todt about going there but he dodged the question maybe they should have related that his own son Nicolas owns a GP2 that is half owned by the Bahrain Royal Family . They also have a big share holding in Mclaren and I'm sure Mr Ecclestone gets a huge wodge of cash for green lighting this race.

Bernie Ecclestone was asked bout it today and swore at reporters and stormed off.

Its a flipping disgrace. Personally I wont be watching it and Ive seen every GP in the last 20 or so years at least.

losthorizon

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The teams wont be forced to race according to Bernie despite the fact that doing so will violate their contracts. I really don't see any team doing it though.

I still think it will be cancelled TBH. Three TV stations have announced they wont be covering it - Sky Germany, Fuji From Japan and Finnish TV.

Three days of rage have been announced for the Grand Prix weekend. I mean we could have people being shot outside the track while the race is going on. All for a motor race and some peoples desire for money and political power. Madness. Plus it puts innocent peoples lives in jeopardy. The only person I expect to speak up about this would be Mark Webber.

oneofakind32

This race shouldn't go ahead and should be removed from the calender for good IMO. The attendance at this event has always been terrible. The track has never produces an exciting race. This event is nothing more then a folly for the crown prince of Bahrain. It's disgusting to see events like this going ahead and classic European tracks loosing the GPs. This race sums up everything that's wrong with modern F1. Bernie should be ashamed

G-Money

This has never been one of my favourites so I'd have no issue with it disappearing off the calendar permanently. It's a crying shame that races like Bahrain and Valencia are kept on the calendar and Belgium gets reduced to appearing every 2nd year (as rumoured from next year onwards).

Cookie_Monster

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The teams wont be forced to race according to Bernie despite the fact that doing so will violate their contracts. I really don't see any team doing it though.

1,2 for HRT? :pac::pac::pac:

cherryghost

I was thinking the same. This weekend may have the faint feeling of Indianapolis 2005.

frostie500

G-Money wrote: »

This has never been one of my favourites so I'd have no issue with it disappearing off the calendar permanently. It's a crying shame that races like Bahrain and Valencia are kept on the calendar and Belgium gets reduced to appearing every 2nd year (as rumoured from next year onwards).

One thing that should be made clear about Spa is that the circuit cannot afford to host a race. Their attendance is something paltry like 45000 people for race day so you can see how difficult it is for them to afford the race. Obviously Bernie should do something to reduce their hosting fee but that's not very likely. A better solution would be for the teams to include provisions for Spa, and other classic races such as the British, German, French and Italian GPs, to be on the calendar each year-even if it means that they leave some money at the negotiating tables

lord lucan

cherryghost wrote: »

I was thinking the same. This weekend may have the faint feeling of Indianapolis 2005.

I can't see any of the teams breaking rank and pulling out. At most we'll get a driver or 2 voicing their displeasure or showing some kind of symbolic protest(black armband etc.) and that'll be it.

Tom Dunne

losthorizon wrote: »

while people are being shot outside the circuit.

losthorizon wrote: »

. A 15 year old boy was shot this weekend by police

losthorizon wrote: »

I mean we could have people being shot outside the track while the race is going on

You really need to check your facts. People are not being shot as you seem to think. Yes, there are problems in the country, but what the West is seeing is an extremely one-sided, ill-informed and selective version of the truth.

How come there wasn't this much hysteria over China? Not exactly a country with a clean human rights record.

Myrddin

Tom Dunne wrote: »

You really need to check your facts. People are not being shot as you seem to think. Yes, there are problems in the country, but what the West is seeing is an extremely one-sided, ill-informed and selective version of the truth.

How come there wasn't this much hysteria over China? Not exactly a country with a clean human rights record.

Couldn't agree more.

China has horrific human rights records.
The US involvement in conflicts around the world with god knows how many innocent civilians killed.

losthorizon

Tom Dunne wrote: »

You really need to check your facts. People are not being shot as you seem to think. Yes, there are problems in the country, but what the West is seeing is an extremely one-sided, ill-informed and selective version of the truth.

How come there wasn't this much hysteria over China? Not exactly a country with a clean human rights record.

I'm sorry? You seem to be alone in that opinion. Can I have a source?

Heres an amnesty report from just a few days ago

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE11/014/2012/en/a23b192e-c518-49e1-8a97-c11e4789f06f/mde110142012en.pdf

As for my claim about the boy being shot heres my source

http://www.euronews.com/newswires/1482226-teenager-shot-in-bahrain-hours-after-f1-gets-go-ahead/

Plenty of other people have been shot and killed in the last 12 months. (That Teenager wasnt killed)

8 People were killed in one attack by the security forces who are mostly foreigners and helped by the Saudia Arabian and UAE Armies who invaded last year.

One of the ruling Families slogans is Unif1ed (get it!) - which really really pisses people off.

I do agree with you in one thing. Yes China has a terrible Human Rights record. But, I do think its different. There is no discrimination for one thing. There arent people being shot at in towns in the country while the race is taking place and they don't use it to try and legitimise their regime.

Ecclestone went to South Africa and got his money and he does the same with Bahrain. As he says himself "Hitler was great had getting things done"

Tom Dunne

losthorizon wrote: »

I'm sorry? You seem to be alone in that opinion. Can I have a source?

You already have one - me. I'm living here almost three years. I live and work amongst members of both communities and I can tell you first hand that things are not as bad as the likes of the BBC would have you believe.

Do you know much about the Al Wafeq party? If you did, you would not trust them as a source. They are just as guilty of hysteria as the Western media. Anything to promote their agenda.

The "shotguns" being used in Bahrain are a non-lethal munition, intended to spray a series of small pellets that do not pierce the skin. So when you hear of people being shot, it is not in the same context as we would think in Ireland.

So I suggest you get both sides of the story before forming an opinion. The truth is somewhere in between.

losthorizon

Tom Dunne wrote: »

You already have one - me. I'm living here almost three years. I live and work amongst members of both communities and I can tell you first hand that things are not as bad as the likes of the BBC would have you believe.

Do you know much about the Al Wafeq party? If you did, you would not trust them as a source. They are just as guilty of hysteria as the Western media. Anything to promote their agenda.

The "shotguns" being used in Bahrain are a non-lethal munition, intended to spray a series of small pellets that do not pierce the skin. So when you hear of people being shot, it is not in the same context as we would think in Ireland.

So I suggest you get both sides of the story before forming an opinion. The truth is somewhere in between.

I actually have read about the Al Wafeq party. BTW its not them who are organising the demonstrations but another more radical group whose name I cant remember over the Grand Prix weekend.

So you didnt answer my question have there been deaths ?

By the way, who do you work for? is it a state job?

PJTierney

Memo to Bernie: Cancel Bahrain, Valencia and Abu Dhabi and go to Spa 4 times.

Scotty #

Porsche have pulled out. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98952

Really can't see it going ahead and I don't think it should. It's only as the royals have so much invested that is happening at all.

frostie500

One thing that has consistently been overlooked is the fact that the European Tour, the IOC and FIFA all recognise Bahrain so why is F1 being singled out for criticism by the majority of the media?

Cookie_Monster

frostie500 wrote: »

One thing that has consistently been overlooked is the fact that the European Tour, the IOC and FIFA all recognise Bahrain so why is F1 being singled out for criticism by the majority of the media?

1. because the event is coming up
2. because it's an easier sport to pick on since less people have an interest in it compared to football etc
3. because Bernie is so staunch in blabbing about it in the media

lee_baby_simms

If blood spills on the circuit will the teams have to switch to inters?

cherryghost

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17767985

Dempsey

cherryghost wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17767985

Crazy stuff

Tom Dunne

I think this incident is the locals worst nightmare - F1 team staff caught up in the trouble.

I'm just back from the track, things seem quite relaxed there. Got to the pit lane, up close and personal with the teams. Michael Schumacher whizzed by me on a scooter, all smiles, and my wife got to chat with Heikki Kovalainen. There seems to be a good buzz around the place, but I get the impression the stands won't be full on Sunday. Security is noticeable by its absence, extremely low-key.

losthorizon

Bahrain has banned Agence France Press and Associated Press Journalists from covering the race.

Discodog

losthorizon wrote: »

Bahrain has banned Agence France Press and Associated Press Journalists from covering the race.

They have also banned Sky News. Sky are now complaining about not being let in & yet Sky are covering the race :rolleyes:.

Sky have just run a 10 min section that was highly critical of Bahrain & then they run a piece by Brundle saying that the race should go ahead. There are also reports that a large demonstration is planned for this afternoon close to the track. There was also an inference that the demos would target hotels being used by the teams.

The suggestion was that those who oppose the government wanted the GP to go ahead. One opposition leader said, on Sky News, that F1 should not be there.

Robbo

Twop Twips wrote:

BAHRAINI GOVT. Add a "podium" feel to your riot control for F1 by spraying Moët et Chandon from your watercannon vehicles. (via @badassday)

I see Force India are attempting to please everyone by contemplating skipping FP2 on "safety grounds" but reckon it's right to be there.

Richard Hillman

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

If blood spills on the circuit will the teams have to switch to inters?

Now thats just silly. The blood in the heat of Bahrain will provided a sticky substance and give the drivers more grip

Discodog

Robbo wrote: »

I see Force India are attempting to please everyone by contemplating skipping FP2 on "safety grounds" but reckon it's right to be there.

They want to be back in the hotel before dark :eek:

No sporting event should take place in a country where the international press are banned. If Bahrain won't allow the press in then they shouldn't have the publicity of the race. If as suggested there is a riot tonight the race could well be cancelled before tomorrows practice. The BBC must be smiling that this isn't one of their live races.

Even if they decide to go ahead tomorrow there are all sorts of rumours that demonstrators plan to infiltrate the event.

Frank Bullitt

If you have to ask the question "Should F1 be in Bahrain", then clearly it shouldn't be

Robbo

Discodog wrote: »

They want to be back in the hotel before dark :eek:

It's alright, Bernie's offered to ride with them back to the hotel unescorted.

lee_baby_simms

Bernie says everything is fine but, having said that, he recently complimented Adolf Hitler on his ability to "get things done".

the culture of deference

Robbo wrote: »

It's alright, Bernie's offered to ride with them back to the hotel unescorted.

Did you see Bernies reply to natalie pinkham last week. What a spolit little dictator.

People have no problems with F1 in China

Has there been many deaths lately? Why was it ok to have a Grand Prix in the UK when hundreds a year were dying in NI?

the culture of deference

Discodog

the culture of deference wrote: »

People have no problems with F1 in China

I can't ever recall a GP being held in a country that has banned outside news crews. This is the tipping point. You can't have your cake & eat it in that Bahrain wants the media at the GP but won't allow them anywhere else.

mikeym

Just after watching CNN and they say the official F1 website is hacked.

Charlie-Bravo

Formula1.com won't load for me - just a black background!

MiNdGaM3

Anonymous hit this site f1-racers.net

Just defaced it.

Jordan 199

astrofluff wrote: »

Formula1.com won't load for me - just a black background!

It's working fine for me, so try it again