Formula 1: Barcelona and Jerez tracks lined up as Bahrain replacement
Formula 1 teams are planning to have an extra test if the inaugural race at Bahrain is cancelled due to unrest in the country. Before the race, another pre-season test is scheduled at Bahrain, which is also likely to be cancelled.
Formula One Team’s Association (FOTA) were together to discuss the possibilities of an alternative test at Barcelona or Jerez instead of Bahrain. There were also some other options discussed by the sporting group like Silverstone and Abu Dhabi, but all members
eventually agreed upon either Barcelona or Jerez.
There is a possibility that the race in Bahrain might get a green signal as there are still 21 days to the first race. However, that will totally be dependant on the situation in the troubled country.
There is a lot of pressure on all the teams to make a final decision as quickly as possible. The sport’s governing body FIA and Bernie Ecclestone haven’t come to a conclusion yet.
Earlier Red Bull’s principal Christian Horner stated, “It would be a great shame to lose the race, but it's not the teams' decision - it's down to the promoter. Bernie and the FIA will have much more information than us and we will trust their decisions.”
He further added that all teams understand the situation, which is not good in Bahrain, but teams hope that the situation improves rapidly.
There is also a lot of pressure on the smaller teams as they don’t have the budget to afford an additional testing session. FOTA will have to consider a lot of things and keep the smaller teams in mind as well, as they are also a part of the sport.
The organisers in Bahrain have assured Formula 1 boss that there will be no problems during the pre-season test and the first race of the season. However, Ecclestone said that the situation has worsened compared to what it was a few days ago.
He said that there were a lot of hopes that every thing will be back to normal in a few days, which unfortunately hasn’t happened. However, Ecclestone is not in a hurry to make any decision on the race in Bahrain. He said that there is plenty of time left
and the final decision will be taken considering safety of all teams.
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