Bahrain GP could be cancelled – Ecclestone 18/02/2011 |
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Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has warned the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in March will be cancelled if unrest in the country continues.
F1 teams are concerned about the event after several people were killed this week in clashes with police.
Ecclestone revealed he will make a decision next week on whether to cancel the race.
He said: "If things stay as they are today, the answer is no. If it's not quietened down by Wednesday (February 23), I think we will have to cancel probably."
This weekend's GP2 Asia event at the Sakhir circuit has been cancelled because of the protests.
It is thought the teams are already considering whether to go ahead with the final pre-season test, which is due to be held in Bahrain from March 3-6. It could be moved to one of the Spanish test tracks if the unrest continues.
Virgin Racing boss John Booth said the teams would be led by Ecclestone's FOM company, motorsport governing body the FIA and the Bahraini authorities as they decide whether to travel to the race.
"If the local Government, the FIA and FOM say it's safe to go, we'll go," he added.
"They will have people on the ground assessing the situation and they will be well informed on the risks.
"It does give you a lot of concerns but if we're informed it's safe to go, we'll go."
Thousands of overwhelmingly Shi'ite protesters have taken to Manama's streets this week demanding more say in the Gulf Arab kingdom where a Sunni Muslim family rules over a majority Shi'ite population.
On Thursday (February 18), the Bahraini authorities moved to try to end the unrest by banning the protests.
Ecclestone continued: "I spoke to the Crown Prince [on Thursday]. He doesn't know any more than you or I, but they're monitoring exactly what is going on."
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