Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said Bahrain’s reinstated Grand Prix cannot go ahead in October following a mutiny from the F1 teams.
All but one of the 12 teams objected after the Grand Prix, first scheduled as the season-opener in March but postponed due to civil unrest, was rescheduled to take place on October 20.
“Hopefully we can return in the future, but of course it's not on,” Ecclestone said in an interview with BBC Sport. “[It] cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants.”
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At least 29 people were killed in political protests that gripped the Gulf island kingdom since February, prompting Bahrain to impose a state of emergency and call in Gulf troops.
The FIA’s decision last week to award India’s slot on the 20-race calendar to Bahrain and move the New Delhi race to 11 December sparked protests from teams, human rights agencies and senior F1 figures.
According to BBC Sport, the teams wrote to the FIA under the auspices of their umbrella group Fota to say they are opposed to the Bahrain race going ahead in 2011.
The letter says that the idea of adding a 20th race in December would be “unbearable to our staff”, the news outlet said.
The ruling body needs the approval of the teams before making changes to the racing calendar.
Max Mosley, former head of the FIA who left office in 2009, said earlier this week there was “not the slightest chance” the Grand Prix would go ahead.
"Until the written agreement of the teams is forthcoming, you can't actually change the date. It can't be done," Mosley told BBC radio.
Ecclestone said: ”Hopefully there'll be peace and quiet and we can return in the future, but of course it's not on. The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants - they're the facts.”
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Jun 9, 2011 , Bahrain
I am also quite worried as the 400,000 demonstrators rallied in London against the government?s spending cuts few days back, were quite upset that they damaged several public and private buildings including the Ritz and also attacked the police with smoke bombs and paint. Am really glad I was not...
Jun 9, 2011 , Bahrain
Great, so Mr Eccelstone, we are sure you will not have the race this year ( and most probably the many years to come ) in Brazil & India as well as the Italian because of the daily street kidnapping, robbery and killings are a daily festive charm!! And yes, while you are at it, please do not forg...