You’ve got to hand it to Bernie Ecclestone when it comes to straight talking his way round diplomatic trip wires.
In the past few days there has been a steady flow of reports suggesting that the opening race of the Formula One season in Bahrain next month could fall prey to civil unrest. Doubtless the scare stories are seeded in events on the streets of Cairo recently.
Race organisers have done their best to dampen down concerns that the grand prix might have to be cancelled with reassurances that they are monitoring the unrest in the country – the latest Arab state to face public dissent. The deaths of two protesters has done little to ease the situation.
Of immediate concern is the F1 test planned at the Sakhir circuit on March 3 – eight days ahead of the race weekend – a potentially easier target for agitators.
Nabeel Rajab, a representative of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, warned: ”For sure F1 is not going to be peaceful this time. There’ll be lots of journalists, a lot of people looking and [the police] will react in a stupid manner as they did today and yesterday.
“And that will be bloody, but will be more publicised. This will not stop, especially now when people have died. I don’t think it’s going to stop easily.”
Never one to exercise diplomatic restraint where a jackhammer will do, Ecclestone the diminutive F1 ringmaster, did little to allay fears when quizzed on the situation this week.
“The danger is obvious isn’t it,” he ventured. “If these people wanted to make a fuss and get worldwide recognition it would be bloody easy, wouldn’t it?
“You start making a problem on the start grid in Bahrain and it would get worldwide coverage.
“It’s hard to establish exactly what is going on. I’m speaking with the Crown Prince later on. We’re watching events closely. We’ll rely on what they think the right thing to do is. He is a very realistic person. I have never had any problems in Bahrain in the past and I’m happy to walk around town there. But we don’t know now. The world is changing.”
Indeed it is Bernie – and so has the F1 footprint in the past few years, at your behest, to include a number of races in politically combustible destinations.
Ecclestone’s renowned powers of persuasion face a stern test in the coming days.
Cam, Having been starved of my FPE fix over the last 6 months, its great to see 2 posts in the last few days. Always nail on the head stuff – keep ‘em coming! JT