Ecclestone Dismisses Bahrain Fears
Bernie Ecclestone, the president and CEO of Formula One Management, has dismissed fears about staging the Bahrain Grand Prix next month.
Last year’s race was cancelled because of civil unrest in the country, but Ecclestone has no fears that the situation will be repeated this year – and insists he has no concerns over security.
‘It’s business as usual,’ he told the BBC. ‘I don’t need any personal security but I’m sure whatever’s necessary will be looked after.’
Human rights organisations have criticised the decision to proceed with the race, pointing to Bahrain’s human rights record, and concerns have been expressed that it could be a target for protesters. Ecclestone, though, was unconcerned, adding: ‘I don’t think the people who are trying to demonstrate a little bit are going to use anything to do with F1. If they did they would be a little bit silly.’
An FIA spokesman said: ‘We welcome the spirit of reconciliation expressed by all parties and look forward to an exciting F1 race at the Bahrain International Circuit.’
Meanwhile, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is refusing to sign off new cost-control suggestions in the sport, with Red Bull and Toro Rosso the only teams yet to sign a letter to the FIA concerning the policing of the Resource Restriction Agreement.
‘What I would like to make clear is Red Bull is fully behind cost control in Formula One,’ said Horner to the Press Association. ‘Whether the RRA is the right route to achieve that is what we question.’
