http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17782601



If she paid any attention to the media she would see that the drivers are saying that they "trust the FIA's decision", and that to me is an indication that they are not entirely comfortable with racing in Bahrain. Last years race was cancelled and here we are one year on with exactly the same issue. "Don't go" The teams and drivers are already there, pay attention.



The sport has decided and not all teams or drivers are comfortable with the decision. The teams and drivers are restricted by multi-million pound contracts. A driver deciding to pull out of the race is not just a personal decision, it could have far reaching effects on hundreds of people of working in the teams, and those businesses in the local area supporting them, which just happen to be mostly British.

Of course you can express an opinion, why did you leave it so late?



As I mentioned, it is not just the drivers. You could start by backing the teams and drivers up in some way. It would then be a team decision to do the right thing or not, and then let the public eye judge them. Block or cover financial penalties if you have to, but don't highlight an issue about morality unless you have some of your own to back it up with.

Just reading the driver's comments on this page...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17771864
...it's obvious that the drivers have been briefed to within an inch of their lives by their team's PR people.

Only Hulkenberg and Webber have my respect for saying what they really think.

Saying that, though, it is putting the drivers in a difficult position. Personally, I don't think they should be there, but given that the FIA has made the decision then the teams have very little say in it. They all have multi-million contracts with both the FIA and their sponsors, so are stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's the team personnel that I feel sorry for - the drivers and the management of the teams will probably be flown into the track, it's the mechanics and staff that don't have that luxury and will have to hope there's no trouble on the roads in and out of the track. As we've already seen, Force India yesterday, and Sauber today, have both been involved in alarming incidents on the roads between the track and their hotels.

It's all about money at the end of the day - as long as Bernie gets his millions, he doesn't give a stuff about the teams or the fans attending the event. I'm kind of hoping there is some sort of protest on the track, as long as no one gets hurt - maybe then F1 can never go back to the bore-fest that is the Bahrain GP. It's only on the calendar because the vast amounts of money involved in that region mean it's such a lucrative market for Bernie and his cronies. Let's face it, the track has never produced a great race yet, has it?!

I'm actually looking forward to the race, with competition at the front being so close, but it is a boring race normally - most the newer circuits are the same. Mind you, some of the older tracks boring too - I hate Monaco, but there's no chance of that ever being taken off the calendar.

If there is a definite and specific danger to the drivers/team/spectators then by all means pull out, I just hate sports events being used as political instruments.

What about the dangers to the people demonstrating for their human rights?

They should have our support but do you honestly think the GP being or not being there will make a blind bit of difference? It was called off last year and, as far as I'm aware, that didn't stop the Bahraini authorities from killing people in the street.

I do feel that people vastly over-estimate the political power of sport. Let's be honest, the only statement F1 is making in having the Bahrain GP is 'we like money'. I don't honestly think the endorsement of such a patently self-interested party as Bernie Ecclestone really amounts to all that much. Anyone with half a brain cell knows F1 doesn't want to be there, it's just there because the place is swimming in cash. It doesn't bestow any prestige on a state to have bought the patronage of the most mercenary sport on Earth.

I actually think having the GP will do the Bahrain government (if you can call it that) more harm than good. It highlights exactly how much turmoil the state is in, when it had largely dropped off the front pages over the last year. The last thing an oppressive regime actually needs is publicity.

Jon

I've not noticed any downtime and I've been on there a few times today.

I also just found this snippet on the website.



Logistical reasons. Well I suppose it is true in a sense, but it has been well worded to cover up that the team wanted to arrive at their hotel in daylight for fear of their safety.

I hear the Bahraini royal family (and hence ruling elite) owns 40% of MacLaren F1. It wouldn't suprise me to discover they have shares throughout the sport.

What a mess.