Bahrain GP Cancelled

englishpremier · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:06

It's official, the 2011 Barhain F1 GP will not go ahead in march

Ok so it's not too much of a surprise, but it's sure as hell going to be costly.

From the BBC

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been called off because of anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom.
The race, set for 13 March, was set to be the curtain-raiser for the new season.

So looks like we'll have to wait much longer now until we get to see some championship action.

GravyMonster · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:07

If only there was a 2011 F1 news thread for this to go in

Clarkey · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:16

What's the problem with having a thread for this? I can't be bothered trawling through a single enormous thread for stuff. What's the point in having a whole forum and only using one thread?

Duke · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:21

Cancelling it seems the right thing to do imo, even if it does mean a delay in starting the new season. Hope it gets tagged on somewhere.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/02/21/bahrain-grand-prix-postponed/

Mr Jack · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:21

Clarkey said:
What's the problem with having a thread for this? I can't be bothered trawling through a single enormous thread for stuff. What's the point in having a whole forum and only using one thread?

Yeah, this.

As I said on the other thread: it's disappointing to wait longer for the start of the season but it was the right decision. It would have been quite wrong for the show to go on against the violent backdrop of the Bahrain royals brutally oppressing their people - quite apart from the very real safety concerns. Still, on the upside, Australia is a better first race of the season anyway.

Steeps · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:23

This news is more exciting than last years race. I'm actually pleased it's cancelled and that the season will start at a track that is more fun to watch.

Pete19s · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:30

It was the only decision that could be made. Only question now is will it be rescheduled at all? The race is the master plan of the Crown Prince and with the protesters wanting the Royal Family gone will it be seen this season should they get the result they want? It may just be me but the timing of the Crown Prince agreeing to talks and the threat of the GP being called off were rather close....

Shimmy · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:30

Right decision, even if it was safe it would be wrong to race there currently.

It just feels proper starting in Australia again anyway imo.

McLaren are probably the best pleased of the new teams. They desperately need some more mileage and test time before the 1st race so that they can develop and extract more performance out of the MP4-26.

EDIT: Another test in Barcelona to be held 8 - 11th of March followed by perhaps another test too, due to the lack of a race weekend. Pirelli wants to test somewhere warmer as the temperatures so far haven't been reflected the conditions for them to operate in throughout the season.

Skeeter · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:36

So what other countries to we need to encourage democratic protests in in order to rid the calendar of rubbish tracks?

Hungary? Korea? Abu Dhabi?

CaptainRAVE · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:42

We will the race, just later in the year. It was the right decision and I hope they manage to sort out all of the problems there.

pingwing · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:45

Skeeter said:
So what other countries to we need to encourage democratic protests in in order to rid the calendar of rubbish tracks?

Hungary? Korea? Abu Dhabi?

Urm Hungary's gp survived Democracy nicely as it was started before they lifted the Iron Curtain then carried on ever since....

Last time I checked South Korea was a parliamentary democracy too... (though the threat of another Korean war is still looming a bit)

Abu Dhabi I wouldnt mind but they have a lot of money to keep people quiet (and probably have read my soon to be written book of dictatorship 101 - what everyone has done wrong)

Shame we have to wait longer for the season to start but to be honest it is one of the least exciting tracks, all im waiting for is China to collapse as there's a gp iv never been too excited by

SoliD · 21 Feb 2011 at 16:52

Good move, as i'm on earlies on 13th so would have to avoid the result until I got home, whereas I'm off for Australia

Malt_Vinegar · 21 Feb 2011 at 17:11

is it wrong that I can already see the conspiracy arguments coming up at the end of the season as to if they run (or not run it at all) the event again, and who it will benefit

Shimmy · 21 Feb 2011 at 17:16

They're planning to postpone the race not cancel it afaik. Can't see it being removed from the calendar.

Malt_Vinegar · 21 Feb 2011 at 17:30

Shimmy said:
They're planning to postpone the race not cancel it afaik. Can't see it being removed from the calendar.

Indeed, however, trying to implement and run a race in a country that is going through significant political changes at a time different to its original schedule, with an unknown ruling government.

Nothing is off the table at the moment. Cancelling at this point would be daft, as it gives the option of running it later. However, as said above, i don't think its going to be "that" easy to slot it back in!

PinkFloyd · 21 Feb 2011 at 18:30

I vote we cancel Bahrain and have 2 successive races at either Spa or Canada?

SoliD · 21 Feb 2011 at 18:35

PinkFloyd said:
I vote we cancel Bahrain and have 2 successive races at either Spa or Canada?

Bring back Brands?

TheGamingGeneral · 21 Feb 2011 at 18:37

It should have been axed immedietly after the snore fest that was the opening 2010 race. Scratch that, the year before. Hell no, after the first grand prix held there, it's a terrible, TERRIBLE race track.

Money talks mind.

mmj_uk · 21 Feb 2011 at 19:49

It's a crap circuit anyway, last couple of seasons have been boring processional affairs.

arknor · 21 Feb 2011 at 19:56

SoliD said:
Bring back Brands?

crap circuit and no doubt not in any way capable of hosting a GP unless we time travel to the 70's or 80's