Bahrain may not be as bad as we all think. So far we haven't seen a GP raced there on the new Pirrelli tyres or with DRS, and with the new regulations preventing drivers from blocking on entry into corners the race may be transformed. Just that one rule change, preventing a driver from moving back onto the racing line after moving off it to prevent a pass should mean the end of any race becoming processional.
Its still in the middle of a desert in a country with no fan base though. Hardly the jewel in the F1 crown. Before you say why does that matter if the track is good it does - you can have the best track in the world but if no one comes coz its in the middle of nowhere and there is no atmosphere the race will not be liked and die. Look at France - look at Turkey! Bahrain is a drab and faceless Grand Prix and shouldn't be on the calender whatever the political situation. Abu Dhabi may get its critics but at least its a venue with a soul.
Not quite sure why you've assumed I like or support the Bahrain GP. I don't need a lecture. Please have the courtesy to read all my reply. If you'd read my previous comments on the Bahrain GP you'd know I'm not in favor of it going ahead. My comment here was simply a generalization that the current regulations and rule changes should prevent any of the GP's, regardless where they're held, from becoming a procession. There are very few of the 'new' GP's that I'm a fan of with the exception of Singapore, which I like for many reasons. The tracks a good length, it's wide, and the layout allows genuine overtaking, even without DRS, and the lights turn it into a unique spectacle. I've never been a fan of Bahrain and have serious reservations about many of the newer Asian GP's. There are question marks over China, I can't see Korea surviving and I've never believed F1 should be in India. Despite it's 'apparent success' I don't think any of the problems that I believe will eventuate there have shown themselves yet. As far as I'm concerned all the European GP's should be protected, unfortunately most are struggling to meet Bernies demands. Negotiating more affordable terms is not something he grasps, in fact I'm not sure whether he's even noticed there's a recession. Middle Eastern wealth of course is the very thing that Bernie finds so attractive, he doesn't have to confront the financial difficulties the Europeans have to deal with, among other issues that confront track owners.
I think it really stinks how the traditional events that have been in the F1 calendar from the beginning are being replaced by newer races with little to no spectator turnout, atmosphere, promotion among other things.
Even in the early days, teams would only go to the long-haul races if the local promoters made it worth their while. Bernie has achieved an exponential growth in the numbers, but the basic motivation hasn't changed. Economic development in Asia and elsewhere outstripping Europe was always going to result in a more global championship, while governmental effects have admittedly greatly accelerated this process. As for a race with no atmosphere, promotion or spectator turnout, the Spanish GP was like that for 40 years...
Lets not get over defensive now Mr Kewee t'was hardly a lectuer nor was I suggesting you were in support of the whole thing - I was just responding to you saying we don't know if its good grand prix or not and continuing Life's point. I disagreed with the point you made and responded too it. I did not use abusive language, or make comments about each individual so please do not try to make out I was ranting or I hadn't actually read what you put in order to dismiss me as some sort of troll. Sorry for the interuption.
Just to play devil's advocate for one moment. Between 19-21st January the Bahrain International Air Show was on with 60,000 visitors from around the globe and naff all happened then. I am in no way condoning the terrible violence perpetrated by the regime on it's people, just pointing out that large scale events can pass off without incident in Bahrain.
We both seem to be making fairly decent job of misunderstanding one another. Apologies for my part. When I asked for the courtesy of reading all my reply, I was referring to what I was about to write, not the previous posting we were discussing. The reason I became defensive. When someone starts a sentence, "before you say".....you create the impression you know what they're thinking and how they're going to respond. Only family and close friends know me well enough to second guess my thoughts and responses. Apologies again.
For your enjoyment: Why this year's Bahrain Grand Prix should not be taking place Interesting perspective from The Guardian.
Thank you for posting this. If you go back to the previous page, page 20, you'll read a response I made to Mephisto. In the first sentence I made reference to personal safety. The journalist in the Guardian mirrors everything I said. Its good to see someone with influence voicing their thoughts, after all nobody's going to take a blind bit of notice of my opinions. Thanks again.
"The safety of fans cannot be guaranteed at the Bahrain grand prix, according to the president of the country's Automobile Federation. But he called on F1 to help unify his country when the race returns in April - after it was cancelled in 2011. "There are disturbances, and youths, who need to be handled in a proper and right way," Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa told PA Sport. "There are no guarantees. You could be anywhere, even Silverstone." And possibly Silverstone by his reckoning - God preserve us from such outrageous politicking. And why should F1 unify his beleaguered country? Surely that is down to the chaps in charge!
I may be way off the mark, but it sounds like something that's been taken out of context to me. I think what he might be trying to say is that 'accidents' can happen anywhere, I'm sure there's people who get hurt at Silverstone every year. DISCLAIMER: This isn't what I think, but what I think HE thinks.
Tricky subject, no? Who are we to judge what is right and wrong when it comes to protests and policing public disorder in a different country with different cultures, justice and belief systems? Some of the sentences that have been handed down have been incredible (4 years for using Facebook to organise the uprising). It reminds me of an old saying "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter". As for the rights and wrong of racing there, the UK Government lets people travel there... just as they want people to be safe coming here.
Why would the hosting country ban people from getting a visa to be there? A little counter productive if you ask me. Last year the Indian authorities tried to cash in by introducing rediculous tax rates for the teams to bring equipment into the country, they backed down soon enough once it became apparent that teams just wouldn't turn up (though their version of backing down was to increase the money supplied to the organisers and having them pay the tax on the teams behalf). This is a small part of the long history of countries trying to cash in on F1 being seen in their countries, and won't be the last, so any posturing over visas will be just that, posturing. They will back down soon enough when they realise that should the teams just say "tough, if you are going to penalise us for being there then we won't turn up" and Bernie will follow up with "Well, tough, you still have to pay the hosting fees" then they are $40+ million out of pocket with nothing to show for it.
The Guardian article is pretty much spot on. To cancel it due to human rights would stink of hypocrisy - we have GPs in China (hardly a beacon of human rights) and India (the poverty is unbelievable). Look hard enough and you'll find it everywhere - the extreme sidelining of Aboriginal Australians, the wiping out of Amazonian tribes in Brazil. And in bowing to the whims of the US in evicting the protesters, we've hardly set the bench mark for freedom. The race is poor and always has been. It should never have been on the calendar but hey, I'm not Bernie!
A Bahraini protester killed after being shot with a live footage (the video doesn't show the shooting so cannot be authenticated). But if this is the case, I think it will put a lot of doubts on the race happening.
I used to bleed for the World but gave up once I realised that the World didn't give a stuff! I don't think the race should go ahead. However, my wishes and thoughts are immaterial to the 'big business' that is F1 and even more irrelevant when you remember where F1 does race. I'm sure there are many internet users who are up in arms about the UK hold this years Olympics - they, too, are pissing in the wind.
