The "Bahrain" decision. Who will call it?

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Sohvakettu
I also wonder if they are going to drive in front of empty grand stands if the security is really that problematic there...
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Isn't Bahrain one of the circuits where empty grandstands are the norm anyway?

You always get plenty of tourists attending these events, even if the local population takes little interest, or just can't afford the tickets.
 
I dont understand why should F1 be any different than anything else... You do know that if you have the money and the proper circuit you can have a GP in your country too regardless of your political choice... Unless there is a war going on or serious safety issues (have to be really serious as the Brazil example shows us) I dont see any reason to call of the race.
If I have money I can buy whatever I want and that includes F1, even if Im a fascist pig (no desrespect to pigs intended)

Unfortunatly thats how it works.
 
Touring Mars
The two races and the circumstances surrounding them are scarcely comparable.

Brazil (and other places) have their own security issues to deal with - but what does that have to do with Bahrain?

The decision to race in Bahrain should, oddly enough, be based on what the situation is in Bahrain.
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I didn't suggest they should base the decision whether or not to race in Bahrain on anything else... simply that if it's safety they are worrying about, then it is not a new situation to be in.
 
It kind of was, though - I don't think it is exactly reasonable to expect F1 drivers and teams to participate in an event while just a few miles away, doctors, nurses and other staff are being attacked inside hospitals by government thugs for daring to treat injured and dying protesters. I know that Brazil has problems with safety as well, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that maybe the situation in Bahrain last year was just a tad worse.
 
Touring Mars
It kind of was, though - I don't think it is exactly reasonable to expect F1 drivers and teams to participate in an event while just a few miles away, doctors, nurses and other staff are being attacked inside hospitals by government thugs for daring to treat injured and dying protesters. I know that Brazil has problems with safety as well, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that maybe the situation in Bahrain last year was just a tad worse.
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Well that's where the two issues lay - to not go on the grounds you mention would be a political decision and would show F1 taking a political/moral/ethical standpoint, which is totally different from the "security concerns" that Bernie, the FIA, and the teams keep mentioning as possible reason for not holding the event.


IMHO, F1 has too much of it's own politics, never mind taking on-board the politics of a troubled nation. F1 is there as business, as a sport and hopefully to entertain it's fans - who I'm sure for the most part don't fully understand, or even care about Bahrains issues - there's probably more people out there who think Bahrain should be taken off the calender because it's boring than there are who think so because of Human Rights issues.
 
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MatskiMonk
Well that's where the too issues lay - to not go on the grounds you mention would be a political decision and would show F1 taking a political/moral/ethical standpoint, which is totally different from the "security concerns" that Bernie, the FIA, and the teams keep mentioning as possible reason for not holding the event.
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So the fact that local hospitals were a) full of injured and dying protesters and b) overrun with government thugs who attacked said protesters and the medical staff treating them in the hospitals themselves is not a safety issue?? I'm sorry, but it patently is. Coupled with the fact that access to and from the circuit could be hindered by all manner of protest-related activity, and you've got a major logistics problem on your hands. That has nothing to do with the politics of the situation at all. Yes, there are also political considerations as well, but on the grounds of safety and security alone, it was pretty clear that the decision to abandon last year's race was a very smart one indeed. The fact that Bahrain is not in so much turmoil this year, however, means that alot of these practical and very real safety concerns of the teams (and other staff) are not nearly as much of an issue this time.
 
Im sure F1 goes and has gone to countries where if people dont have medical insurances are left to die on the streets... And to countries where women are treated like second rate human beings and so on...

Its how it works. One thing is human rights and another sports. unfortunatly
 
The difference with Brazilian criminals is that those criminals usually operate for profit and that makes them predictable. Religious political activism isn't predictable in the same sense. They couldn't care less about profit and their goals aren't hindered by disturbing the business as usual, more the opposite.
 
RX-7_FD3S
I personnaly dont think F1 should go in a country where human right are beeing constantly stepped upon. That's my opinion.
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Texas not only has the death penalty, but actually executes those on death row. Some say the death penalty is a human rights violation, so should the FIA cancel the race in Texas?

China has a horrible record when it comes to human rights, why are there races in China?

F1 is a sport and a business, its politics are internal. Let the politicians deal with the politics external to F1 (and sports (and dare I say it, business)).
 
peterjford
Texas not only has the death penalty, but actually executes those on death row. Some say the death penalty is a human rights violation, so should the FIA cancel the race in Texas?

China has a horrible record when it comes to human rights, why are there races in China?

F1 is a sport and a business, its politics are internal. Let the politicians deal with the politics external to F1 (and sports (and dare I say it, business)).
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Texas doesn't go to the streets with the National Gaurd shooting protesters, or anything remotely close to Bahrain. Killing innocent people, and those charged by a jury of 12 is far different.

China I agree with you on. Also it seems many here don't recall this not being the first time it was an issue for F1. South Africa quickly comes to mind.
 
Top Gear has made a pretty pointed statement about the race in Bahrain -

So there will be a race in Bahrain next weekend. For now, anyhow. We’ll leave you to make up your own mind on whether the FIA, the teams and Bernie are doing the right thing in lending the Bahraini ‘government’ the implied international endorsement of a sporting event we are repeatedly told is on a scale commensurate with the Olympics or the World Cup, when even the most benevolent commentator would admit there are a few issues it might consider of greater importance than hosting an F1 race.

What we will say is the tenor of all the F1 communications — “it’s not about legitimacy or otherwise of the protests, it’s about OUR safety” — do seem to be avoiding the point. As does the sight of drivers when questioned directly about the morality of racing in Bahrain feeling obliged to give a ‘no comment.’
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I agree with what they have to say. Would we hold the Olympics in Syria right now? Certainly not. The World Cup in North Korea? Nope.
 
hawkeye122
I agree with what they have to say. Would we hold the Olympics in Syria right now? Certainly not. The World Cup in North Korea? Nope.
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We wouldn't hold an F1 race at Syria either on the grounds of very obvious safety.
 
There are only two reasons strong enough to cancel a GP:

a) Safety of the Circus stars and crew;

b) Money, i.e., sponsors pulling out because of their image (see South Africa) or insurance companies refusing to cover the risks or asking too much to do it.

Human Rights aren't part of the equation here. And if asked about it, "No Comment" is the best reply you'll get.
 
Anyone else seen this? Group of people served a molotov cocktail to one of the largest F1 billboards alongside a freeway in Bahrain.
alleged-bahrain-fire.png


Kevin Easons arrived in Bahrain already, doesn't seem at all nervous lol
https://twitter.com/#!/easonF1
 
FahrerGott
Kevin Easons arrived in Bahrain already, doesn't seem at all nervous lol
https://twitter.com/#!/easonF1
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Eason reckons that no-one in the paddock wants to go to Bahrain, and that everyone he spoke to in Shanghai was uncomfortable about it. However, when it came time to write his article on the subject, he could only point to a single instance of a conscientious objector - a caterer with Williams who lost her job because she refused to go to Bahrain.
 
peterjford
Texas not only has the death penalty, but actually executes those on death row. Some say the death penalty is a human rights violation, so should the FIA cancel the race in Texas?

China has a horrible record when it comes to human rights, why are there races in China?

F1 is a sport and a business, its politics are internal. Let the politicians deal with the politics external to F1 (and sports (and dare I say it, business)).
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Nope I dont want to and honestly if you think the Bahrein situation can even be remotely compare to Texas or china I think you're wrong. Bahrein is in religious war if you didnt know, religious war in the past only brought terrible things (yugoslavian war not so far from my country, somalian slaughter (hunderds of thousand of somalian people were killed). So yeah I dont really think it's comparable.

You can have your idea I dont mind, but let me think what I want :yuck:
 
RX-7_FD3S
Nope I dont want to and honestly if you think the Bahrein situation can even be remotely compare to Texas or china I think you're wrong.
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Do you think that's going to stop activists if Formula 1 makes a political or moral statement about Bahrain? They will see Formula 1 taking sides in Bahrain, and then they will ask "You made a statement in Bahrain - why won't you make one about [this country]?". What the statement Formula 1 makes about Bahrain does not matter. The fact that it was made at all will be enough for people who want to draw attention to a political or social cause. And as soon as Formula 1 decides not to make a statement about that second country, the activists will brand them hypocrites. They will say "Well, you refused to race in this country because of human rights violations, but you continue to race in that country despite human rights violations".
 
Actually F1 makes a statement by going, they are showing that they support the royalty in place there, so the other ethnies taht get slaughtered atm could take the message very wrongly dont you believe ?

By not going they dont make a statement at all btw, they could just say, we arent safe for our driver and team, so we decide to not go, which they did last year. Beside the message that you're saying (I still dont believe it's true) already passed, since they didnt go last year. Right ?
 
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Although I think Bahrain is a cool track, is it worth risking all this trouble just to race there?
 
hawkeye122
Top Gear has made a pretty pointed statement about the race in Bahrain -



I agree with what they have to say. Would we hold the Olympics in Syria right now? Certainly not. The World Cup in North Korea? Nope.
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when has ostracizing a country ever improved the human rights situation?
if your friend was abducted and held hostage would you refuse a chance to entertain him in captivity because you think the hostage-takers are out of line?

dont race for the government, race for the people.:scared:
 
Dhalism
when has ostracizing a country ever improved the human rights situation?
if your friend was abducted and held hostage would you refuse a chance to entertain him in captivity because you think the hostage-takers are out of line?

dont race for the government, race for the people.:scared:
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Ok I'lla sk you a simple quesiton, since the situation didnt change since last year, why they didnt went last year and they are going this year ?
 
RX-7_FD3S
Ok I'lla sk you a simple quesiton, since the situation didnt change since last year, why they didnt went last year and they are going this year ?
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I don't know. But is it a bad thing? All attention is on Bahrain situation right now. Half a billion people will undeniably get to hear commentators complain about it on air. Maybe you got Bernie all wrong?
 
Thing is, F1 is a western-driven sport, so if these protestors attack the Grand Prix, this could draw them a lot of negative press from the western press who cover the Bahraini situation. I'm no political expert but if they did such a thing, surely that would hamper their campaign?
 
peter_vod69
You've never seen a Formula 1 race there have you?
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Um, no.

I meant I like the layout of the track. But with the current state of the country I don't think it's worth it just to have a race there.
 
Cowboys965
Um, no.

I meant I like the layout of the track. But with the current state of the country I don't think it's worth it just to have a race there.
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It is a fun track, but people can get hurt. F1 is being protected by the government, but the rioters don't seem too happy about that.
 
The track, as a rule, sucks. The FIA should make a "No comment" and not go at all. Doing the race implies endorsement.
 
hawkeye122
The track, as a rule, sucks.
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And you think that that is a valid reason for cancelling the race in the face of the protests?

"Oh, hey, Bahrain, we can see your people are all really upset and protesters and police are throwing molotov cocktails and tear gas at one another with equal fervour, but what really concerns us is that if we hold the Grand Prix, the racing isn't going to be very good."

I suppose it's the apolitical course of action I've been calling for, but damn it if it isn't insensitive.
 
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