F1 Boss To Let Bahrain Decide Race Fate

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has said that he will leave the decision on whether or not the opening race of the season in Bahrain should go ahead, to the country’s crown prince.

The country is currently in the middle of large-scale protests that have seen six people killed after police fired live rounds at protesters demanding reform.

However, according to media reports, Ecclestone has said that crown prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifah was in the best position to make the call.

The head of Formula One said: ‘he will decide whether it’s safe for us to be there, I’ve no idea. I’m not there, so I don’t know’.

Ecclestone said a decision on whether the race on 13 March could go ahead would be made on Tuesday.

Holding the race on that date in another location has been ruled out as there would not be enough time for alternative organisers to make the necessary arrangements, but Bahrain could be moved to another date later in the year.