FIA: Bernie Ecclestone made last attempt to reschedule Bahrain Grand Prix in December – Formula 1
International Automobile Federation (FIA) has revealed in its letter that Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone made a last attempt to reschedule Bahrain in the 2011 season.
A statement released from the FIA said that Ecclestone wanted to reinstate Bahrain on December 4, 2011 as the Indian Grand Prix was shifted back to its original date of October 30, 2011.
Ecclestone made this last attempt after publicly admitting that the race in Bahrain in such critical conditions was not possible.
The FIA asked Ecclestone to resubmit the calendar for the 2011 Formula 1 season after the teams, Bahraini officials and Ecclestone himself voiced against the Grand Prix.
However, Ecclestone still proposed that Bahrain can be given time until December to settle its political issues.
The FIA statement read as, “The commercial rights holder proposed to the FIA that the GP of Bahrain be rescheduled for 4 December. The FIA replied the same day, asking [Bernie] to provide guarantees that any new date proposal is acceptable both to the teams
and to the organisers in Bahrain.”
It further added that, “However, the Bahrainis themselves, believing there was no chance of a grand prix being staged in the Gulf kingdom, announced last night they would not be pursuing the rescheduling of the race.”
Ecclestone resubmitted the calendar in which the inaugural Indian Grand Prix was back on October 30, 2011.
Ecclestone admitted the case and said that he was only trying to help the struggling nation which has always helped promote Formula 1 in the Gulf.
The 80-year-old added that Formula 1 teams are free to decide about the race in Bahrain and similarly the Bahraini officials are free as well to decide about the race.
Although Ecclestone himself stated that Bahrain is a ‘no go’ yet, he has done his level best to give it a place in the 2011 calendar. However, Formula 1 teams and Bahrain itself are not willing to take the risk to race in the Kingdom in the middle of a civil
unrest.
The World Motor Sport Council and FIA are expected to officially give Bahrain a red stamp for the 2011 Formula 1 season soon.
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