Bahrain race has been cancelled

  • Thread starter Thread starter blaaah
  • 190 comments
  • 21,770 views
InvincibleM5
I thought Swiss already banned motor racing?
Click to expand...

He was talking about the Swiss grand prix at Dijon-Prenois which was near the Swiss border, but was actually in france... In 1997, the Nurburgring was the site of the Luxembourg Grand Prix... Despite not being in Luxembourg. Additionally, Imola is near to, but not actually in San Marino. It's just a way of getting around the FIA's "only one race per country" rule. Perhaps the US Grand Prix and US Grand Prix West scenario brought this ruling.

Did a little digging and found that the Swiss Parliament voted in favour of lifting the ban on June the 6th, 2007. Unfortunately, they never followed up on it and the ban still stands.
 
F1 fan
He was talking about the Swiss grand prix at Dijon-Prenois which was near the Swiss border, but was actually in france... In 1997, the Nurburgring was the site of the Luxembourg Grand Prix... Despite not being in Luxembourg. Additionally, Imola is near to, but not actually in San Marino. It's just a way of getting around the FIA's "only one race per country" rule. Perhaps the US Grand Prix and US Grand Prix West scenario brought this ruling.

Did a little digging and found that the Swiss Parliament voted in favour of lifting the ban on June the 6th, 2007. Unfortunately, they never followed up on it and the ban still stands.
Click to expand...

I really didn't know those... Thanks for the heads up mate! ;)👍

There are lots of things I didn't know, and I have to get to know them.
 
F1 fan
In 1997, the Nurburgring was the site of the Luxembourg Grand Prix... Despite not being in Luxembourg.
Click to expand...
That was because there was already a German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in 1997, and Jerez held the title of European Grand Prix. The race at the Nurburgring was named the Luxembourg Grand Prix to circumvent the ban on a country having more than one race. In 1998, Jerez had lost the title of European Grand Prix (because of an incident on the podium in 1997 whena local politician hijacked the trophy presentation), but the organisers in Jerez refused to make the European Grand Prix name available to the organisers at the Nurburgring. So the 1998 race was also known as the Luxembourg Grand Prix, and the organisers acquired the rights to the European Grand Prix name for 1999.
 
I wonder... Bahrain could be re-scheduled if India falls through? What's the latest with progress on the Delhi track?
 
MrMulsanne
I wonder... Bahrain could be re-scheduled if India falls through? What's the latest with progress on the Delhi track?
Click to expand...

The last picture of the track site that I saw was quite horrible, with only trace of the track path with no grandstands. As of February 14th, Charlie has confirmed a rapid progress of the construction and the base layer of the track and run off areas is down with the first layer of tarmac expected to be laid in March.

I think this year's Indian GP would be something like last year's Korean GP except for a rain perhaps. Hopefully they can sort out the Bahrain race as quickly as possible.
 
Q: Should the race in Bahrain have been cancelled earlier, as many now suggest?
Bernie Ecclestone: No. That was not possible. Shortly before the crisis I had lunch with the Crown Prince (HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa) and there was absolutely no indication of what would come just days after. He was full of ideas for the future then shortly after the chain of events set in. There was almost no time to react. Of course we needed a decision by February 21, and that is what I told him. He asked what I would do if I were him, and I answered, ‘You are there. We in Europe are hardly in the situation to make a serious judgment of the conditions. Decide what is best for your country’. He then cancelled the race and I think it was the right decision. It was not an easy one, as it was Formula One that put Bahrain on the map. Before 2004 - when Formula One raced there for the first time - not many people knew Bahrain.

Q: Critics complained that neither Formula One chiefs nor the FIA had uttered a word on the political situation in Bahrain. How political should Formula One racing be?
BE: Formula One must never be political - full stop. My job is it to do the best deals possible for Formula One - to secure jobs. Five thousand people have jobs which are directly or indirectly connected to Formula One, and I want to secure these jobs. It is not my business to make politics. We have politicians for that.

Q: Are there plans to reschedule the race?
BE: To do that the FIA has to change the calendar, and Bahrain has to apply for a new slot. The FIA World Council will meet at the beginning of March and could look into the situation. I have already spoken with FIA President Jean Todt about the possibility of finding a new date and we both agreed that a decision has to be made before the season starts.

Q: Team managers, who are responsible for the logistics, have suggested that an alternative race is only viable in Europe…
BE: It’s all very easy. We don’t need an alternative race anywhere in Europe or any other place. We need a race in Bahrain. If the Crown Prince is of the opinion that his country is able to host a race we will return to Bahrain. I think the teams are sensible enough even to race in Bahrain in the summer break, and despite high temperatures, because this is the way we can support the country.
Click to expand...

http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2011/3/11783.html
 
interludes
I think you may be the only person to like both Sakhir and Yas Marina. Istanbul and Sepang are easily Tilke's best, while Austin and Sochi both look great, they need to be raced on to see what they're really like. It's difficult to pass judgement on Yeongam, since it's only had one incredibly wet race and I don't know what to think about Jaypee; the layout doesn't really do much for me, but I'd have to see it in action. As for the rest, Sakhir, Shanghai, Marina Bay and Valencia are all flawed circuits, but they do have their good points. They're all products of the immediate environment, and a few tewaks would make some of them - most notably Valencia and Marina Bay - very good. As for Abu Dhabi, it too is a product of its environment, but the phyical constraints of the circuit mean that remedying it is going to be very difficult.
Click to expand...

Just was wondering what a tewak is :lol:

Of all the circuits you mentioned, they are not my favourites , as I prefer (F1 2010 game) flowing rhythm; and the classics [e.g. Spa; which have been driven by generations of racers for decades-showing my age:) ]; rather than the new 'up and down', 'tight, flat, no landscape, of Marina Bay, Yeongam, Shanghai, and Singapore. Valencia is tolerable; a longer, somewhat like circuit Gille Villeneuve track with less scenery (no trees). I enjoy Sahkir and Instabul the most of the new circuits; but give me Spa; Silverstone, Melbourne, Monza, Hockenheim, Montreal, for ambiance and sheer thrill. These circuits also seem to have more race fans

Hopefully the new Houston track will not be a repeat of past Tilke efforts :sick:

The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal has often been one of the best races in numerous seasons 👍

The cancellation has also served to ramp up my excitement that much more for the season opener in Australia

Get well soon Robert Kubica 👍 [even though he took the last Canadian F1 driver's seat :sly:]

Go Mark 👍:)

As for the cancellation; likely because of fear that demonstrators would take advantage of the opportunity for world media coverage to demonstrate for reform/change in Bahrain. I read that Suadia Arabia is already making promises to head off any demonstrations in that country.
 
Last edited:
No joking. Austin is only 3hrs away from here though and everyone in Texas knows someone in Austin. I've already arranged a place to stay for free during the USGP weekend. 👍

/OT
 
BlacqueJacques
As for the cancellation; likely because of fear that demonstrators would take advantage of the opportunity for world media coverage to demonstrate for reform/change in Bahrain. I read that Suadia Arabia is already making promises to head off any demonstrations in that country.
Click to expand...
It wasn't cancelled for fear that the race would be hijacked. It was cancelled because the organisers could not guarantee the safety of teams and drivers.
 
You know, if the race is rescheduled for a mid-August event...it's going to be really hot (roughly 100 degrees Fahrenheit).

Although, with no precipitation, it really shouldn't be any worse than holding a Grand Prix race in Phoenix (or ostrich festival) in June.
 
An difficult conditions might make the race more interesting. If drivers are struggling with the heat, the race could throw out an unexpected result.

I wouldn't envy being Vitaly Petrov or Nick Heidfeld, though ...
 
Rossticles
No joking. Austin is only 3hrs away from here though and everyone in Texas knows someone in Austin. I've already arranged a place to stay for free during the USGP weekend. 👍

/OT
Click to expand...

Mee too. My friend and I will be crashing at his sister's apartment during the weekend somewhat near the track.

A Bahrain race in the summer months? I have a feeling we'll see alot of this:
 
Pupik
You know, if the race is rescheduled for a mid-August event...it's going to be really hot (roughly 100 degrees Fahrenheit).

Although, with no precipitation, it really shouldn't be any worse than holding a Grand Prix race in Phoenix (or ostrich festival) in June.
Click to expand...

This years regulations are a lot less physically demanding than last year as tyre grip and downforce levels are a lot lower. So it might literally be a Sunday drive for the drivers and the heat levels will only bring the intensity back up to last year.

Qualfying would be interesting at that temperature though with having to focus on Kers and ARW while going flat out on a new set of tyres that only work well for one lap. Tensions will be higher than ever if they do have to qualify at them temperatures in my opinion.
 
Makes sense, its not far from Abu Dhabi so it shouldn't be too difficult to organise. I don't really mind it being a possible championship decider as its a decent enough track (in pre-2010 configuration which we are meant to be running this year).
 
Read the post above mine. Apply context to my statement. I'm well aware of how a championship can be decided.

I didn't understand the statement of Bahrain's proximity to Abu Dhabi. They will have to travel from Abu Dhabi to Brazil then back to Bahrain. This makes the two country's closeness unimportant.
 
Rossticles
Read the post above mine. Apply context to my statement. I'm well aware of how a championship can be decided.
Click to expand...

I actually did read your post. Clearly the only person here guilty of not reading someone else's post was you.

Rossticles
I didn't understand the statement of Bahrain's proximity to Abu Dhabi. They will have to travel from Abu Dhabi to Brazil then back to Bahrain. This makes the two country's closeness unimportant.
Click to expand...

What is being proposed is that Bahrain is slotted in between Abu Dhabi (which is roughly 250 miles away) and Brazil. Brazil would still be the last round, but Abu Dhabi would no longer be the penultimate round... I didn't care for your tone. The information was clear for all to see so before you go implying that someone never read your post and took it out of context, perhaps you should read the two posts above yours. The information was there.
 
D'oh

I misread penultimate. Whatever. Get over my tone and don't be so sensitive. It's just the internet.
 
Rossticles
D'oh

I misread penultimate. Whatever. Get over my tone and don't be so sensitive. It's just the internet.
Click to expand...

Well if it was an innocent mistake, I don't mind... It's just that there are an overabundance of gtp members who have an annoying habit of deliberately not reading people's posts properly, coming to their own conclusions and acting all high and mighty. I wrongly assumed you were one of them.

For example, recently someone bumped an old thread from years ago about traction control in ALMS. The thread went back to 2007. A Gtp member quoted a post from 2007 about traction control being allowed in f1 (which it was at the time) and went on a rant about how traction control has been banned in f1 since 2008. If said member (whose name shall remain anonymous) had bothered to look, he would have seen that the users original post was made in 07 and his statement was correct at the time.
 
They decided to make the decision on May 1st. I think it will likely go ahead, so the new date might be interesting.
 

Latest Posts

Back