There is no chance of a grand prix in Bahrain, says Max Mosley
• Teams do not want 30 October race to go ahead
• FIA report into Bahrain under fresh scrutiny
The judgment of Carlos Gracia, the FIA vice-president whose flimsy and much ridiculed report provided the basis for the decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix, has come under fresh scrutiny after he described some objections as "frivolous".
Gracia, whose report read more like a postcard, said speaking in Spain : "The Bahrain Grand Prix is being spoken about too much. The FIA decided to send an emissary to look at the situation. It fell to me and I was there for a day and a half."
The former rally driver added: "Some people who are dead, sportingly speaking, say that Formula One has done a disservice to human rights." The Spaniard took a swipe at Damon Hill, one of the few people involved in F1 to speak out against the decision, when he said the British former world champion reflected the "view of someone who is sat comfortably in a chair in his mansion".
If the FIA is capable of embarrassment, and its recent actions would suggest otherwise, it will be red-faced over Gracia's latest howler. Earlier Max Mosley, the man who preceded Jean Todt as president of the FIA, questioned the choice of Gracia as a fact-finder: "The problem was they sent someone to look at Bahrain who speaks no English and, as far as I know, speaks no Arabic. He was taken around by representatives of the government, had no knowledge of what was really going on and obviously didn't ask to see the people a human rights lawyer, or somebody of that kind, would have asked to see."
Mosley said there was not "the slightest chance" of the Bahrain race going ahead on 30 October and the FIA is looking isolated as the teams' consolidated their already known opposition to the race. Simone Perillo, the secretary general of Fota which represents 11 of the 12 teams, said: "We have had a meeting with regard to the 2011 calendar and we have written to the FIA, Formula One Management and the Bahrain Grand Prix organisers to express our view."
The teams do not want the race to go ahead on 30 October, although they are not ruling out the possibility of it taking place at the end of the season. While the commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, also wavering on the October date and is suggesting a move to December F1's governors seem to be the only people who do not know what is going on in Bahrain, where 36 people have died, with hundreds arrested and thousands wounded in the protests for more freedom and human rights.
Formula OneMotor sportPaul Weaverguardian.co.ukFIA president insists F1 will stage 20 grands prix in 2012, not 21
• Istanbul Grand Prix could be cut from 21-race schedule
• United States to make return to Formula One calendar
Formula One will have 20 races in 2012 and not the record 21 listed on a calendar published last week, according to Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, motor sport's governing body.
The Frenchman, straying into an area normally controlled by the sport's commercial rights-holder, Bernie Ecclestone, could not say which race may be axed although Turkey already has an asterisk against it.
"Absolutely not," Todt told Spain's Diario Sport when asked whether there would be 21 races. "There are 21 dates, but the championship will be with 20 grands prix. We don't know which one will go, but the world championship will be 20 races."
The Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul on 6 May 2012 was listed as subject to confirmation after being called into question when local organisers said it faced the axe because of a disagreement over payments to Ecclestone. The race has been poorly attended in recent years but the circuit is popular with drivers.
The United States also makes a return to the championship at a new circuit in Austin, Texas, scheduled for 17 June. Spain is the only country with two races, its home grand prix at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona and the European Grand Prix on the streets of Valencia.
Formula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk‘Peaceful’ Bahrain ready for grand prix, says FIA president Jean Todt
• Todt: 'It's all very peaceful in Bahrain, go and have a look'
• Report gives Bahrain all-clear despite continuing unrest
Jean Todt, the president of motor sport's world governing body, has blamed unreliable media reports of unrest in Bahrain – particularly in the British press – in an attempt to defend the decision to reinstate the grand prix there to Formula One's calendar this season.
Todt appeared to be in denial as he tried to explain Friday's "unanimous" vote to stage the race, postponed in March, on 30 October, a move that has enraged human rights activists and race fans, as well as all 12 teams in the F1 paddock. Todt said: "With the press, from one country to another one, it is different. What is true in the UK is not true in France, is not true in Italy. Same in Germany. I read the newspapers every day. In the UK it is big."
Speaking in the opulent offices of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile in Paris, as further incidents of violence and unrest emerged from Bahrain, the former head of Ferrari said: "The information we have is that at this moment the situation is very peaceful in Bahrain. You should go there and have a look."
When asked if he was doubting the integrity of news organisations such as Reuters and CNN he said: "I don't say I don't believe. But times have changed. The information I have is that the situation is settled in Bahrain. That is the information I have now. I don't want to judge CNN. I can only judge the information I get. "I don't think we should anticipate problems. If you were in a more optimistic frame of mind, when we arrive everything is nice, sunny, no wind, friendly, you will say we were right."
In an effort to lend credence to his argument Todt then produced the report which was the basis of the FIA's decision in Barcelona. It was a simplistic, seven-page report put together by the FIA commissioner Carlos Gracia, who listed his various meetings with leading Bahrain officials over two days. Gracia concludes his report: "It is my view that there is no indication of any problems or reason why the Bahrain Grand Prix should not return to the 2011 calendar." The race should have opened the season on 13 March, but it was postponed, with a decision to be made in May. That, too, was postponed until 3 June. It is now scheduled for 30 October.
Yet Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial rights holder, has revealed he was not convinced by the report and was trying to get a fresh FIA vote – if necessary by fax –to switch the Bahrain Grand Prix from 30 October to December. "Better that we move Bahrain to the end of the season and, if things are safe and well, then that is fine, we can go," he told the Times. "If they are not, then we don't go and there are no problems.
"We listened to that report from the FIA and that was saying there were no problems at all in Bahrain. But that is not what I am hearing and I think we can see that we need to be careful."
If Ecclestone gets his way the Indian Grand Prix would return to the 30 October date it had before being shunted to December to accommodate the reinstated race in Bahrain.
The Bahrain race, more than any other of the 19 events, is used to promote the country, which pays $40m for the privilege. But Todt, like the commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, said the decision to go back to Bahrain was not based on money. "Bernie will have more headache to organise it and get the money rather than not organise it and not get the money."
Healso denied that he was embarrassed by the fact that his son is a business partner of Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who has a 30% stake in Nicholas Todt's ART grand prix team.
"My son is a lawyer. He's a straightforward person, hard working. He should not get any advantage through being the son of the president of the FIA."
Todt called the small press conference to be "transparent" following the negative response to the FIA's action, he appeared to be unsure that Friday's vote had been unanimous, as he had reported. "I would not be able to tell you precisely," he said. "I look at all the hands up and I pronounced unanimous agreement and nobody objected."
Last night Todt's remarks were ridiculed by the Avaaz human rights campaign, whose director, Alex Wilks, said: "Claims that calm has been restored and life is back to normal in Bahrain are completely untrue. In the last week the police have continued to use tear gas, rubber bullets and sound grenades to break up peaceful marches, killing and injuring tens of people. Just today 47 Bahraini doctors and nurses, who simply provided treatment to injured protesters, have been charged by a military court with attempting to topple the kingdom's monarchy.
"Whitewashing these abuses is an insult to the hundreds of protesters jailed and dozens killed in their struggle for change. The FIA's decision to go ahead with the race based on one blinkered account of the situation shows how money has prevailed over morals."
Formula OneMotor sportPaul Weaverguardian.co.ukSports minister Hugh Robertson warns of potential disaster in Bahrain
• Sports minister says there is 'a danger' in staging Grand Prix
• Anti-government protesters planning a 'day of rage'
The sports minister, Hugh Robertson, has raised concerns about the staging of Formula One's Bahrain Grand Prix after the race was restored to the calendar.
Motor sport chiefs made the controversial move to reinstate Bahrain's race, now due to be staged on 30 October, on Friday after pro-democracy demonstrations earlier in the year led to the deaths of 30 people. The protests led to the arrests of hundreds more, many of whom still remain in custody, and prompted the cancellation of the race.
A human rights group on Friday claimed the World Motor Sport Council's decision was "a kick in the teeth for the Bahraini people".
Bahraini officials have promised the race will be able to go ahead smoothly, despite threats of a "day of rage" from the anti-government protesters.
Robertson said in the Daily Telegraph: "You cannot have a situation where politics overtakes sport. If that happens, you have a disaster on your hands.
"You can understand why opposition groups might want the race to go ahead if they are planning protests around it and this is a danger."
Teams are believed to be reluctant to commit to racing in Bahrain, not only from a moral standpoint, but also due to the likelihood of insurance problems.
The Formula One head, Bernie Ecclestone, said after the reinstatement decision: "It's obvious that everybody feels they need to be safe when we get there.
"In the end we'll have to wait and see what happens in Bahrain. If there is peace and no problems then I suppose the teams will be all right."
Formula OneMotor sportBahrainMiddle Eastguardian.co.ukBernie Ecclestone acknowledges concerns about Bahrain Grand Prix
• Head of Formula One feels FIA made a fair decision
• 21-race calendar for 2012 is announced
Bernie Ecclestone has acknowledged the reticence of Formula One teams to take part in a rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix by stating: "Of course they'd rather not be racing in December, but these are unusual circumstances." Although his comments reference the timing rather than any moral or logistical objections many teams are understood to have.
Ecclestone feels the decision made by the FIA has been addressed fairly. "The FIA sent people out there to check on the situation, they came back and reported everything is fine. It's obvious that everybody feels they need to be safe," he said. However, he did go on to accept that it would still be dependent on the situation in the country itself: "In the end we'll have to wait and see what happens in Bahrain. If there is peace and no problems then I suppose the teams will be all right."
The FIA, meanwhile, released some of the report made by one of the people sent to check Bahrain – Spanish Motorsport Federation president, Carlos Gracia. It references positive assessments from international businesses and banks, notes the largest, mainly Shia, opposition group Al Wefaq supported the event and that travel warnings have been lifted.
As the teams debate the effects of finishing the season in December, the FIA also announced a 21-race calendar for 2012, with the anticipated mid-season meeting in Texas being added to the current roster.
Bahrain will hold the opener in March, with the final race in Brazil on 25 November. It will feature seven back-to-back race weekends.
Away from Formula One, the FIA has also announced the creation of a brand new World Championship. The World Endurance Championship will begin in 2012, using as its basis the current Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, of which the Le Mans 24 Hours is the centrepiece.
This long-distance sports car racing, for between six and 24 hours, has become increasingly popular in recent years and it is the first time the category has offered FIA driver and constructor world championship titles since the demise of the World Sportscar Championship in 1992.The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar:
11 March Bahrain
18 March Australia
1 April Malaysia
8 April China
22 AprilKorea
6 May Turkey *
20 May Spain
27 May Monaco
10 June Canada
17 June United States
1 July Valencia
15 July Great Britain
29 July Germany
5 August Hungary
2 September Belgium
9 September Italy
30 September Singapore
14 October Japan
28 October India
11 November Abu Dhabi
25 November Brazil
* Subject to confirmation
Bernie EcclestoneFormula OneMotor sportGiles Richardsguardian.co.ukLet money talk | Editorial
Racing team sponsors should put a brake on the plan to hold a grand prix in Bahrain
Sports administrators are not necessarily to be relied on for good judgment when it comes to bad regimes. The 1936 Olympics were turned into a celebration of Nazi ideals, while English sportsmen gave succour to the apartheid regime by touring South Africa. Now Formula One is on its way back to Bahrain, a kingdom with a vile recent record of human rights abuses.
Given the unlikelihood that F1's boss, Bernie Ecclestone, will pull the plug on the Bahrain grand prix of his own volition, the ball is in the court of the one group involved in sport with the most to lose by the association with Bahrain's rulers: team sponsors.
Last week, Fifa's sponsors spoke out about the scandal in world football's governing body. In 2007, following a Tour de France marked by more than usual levels of doping, sponsors threatened to pull out.
It is time for those sponsoring the Bahrain grand prix and F1 racing teams, including Red Bull, already under pressure from an online petition, to step up to the mark and demonstrate that even if F1's managers are struggling to find their conscience, its paymasters are not.
Motor sportFormula OneBahrainguardian.co.uk‘Unusual circumstances’ led to F1′s Bahrain Grand Prix reinstatement
• 'The FIA reported everything is fine,' says Bernie Ecclestone
• Teams understood to be against staging of Bahrain Grand Prix
The Formula One commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, has cited "unusual circumstances" as the reason behind Friday's highly controversial decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix on this year's calendar. The race is due to be staged on 30 October and the Indian Grand Prix now scheduled for 11 December.
There was an immediate backlash to the position of the World Motor Sport Council as human rights groups voiced their opposition, while on various forums fans were left outraged. Ecclestone said: "The truth of the matter is, this was voted on by the FIA, that was it. It went through the World Council. The FIA sent people out there to check on the situation, they came back and reported everything is fine.
"It's obvious that everybody feels they need to be safe when we get there. In the end we'll have to wait and see what happens in Bahrain. If there is peace and no problems then I suppose the teams will be all right."
The ball is now in the court of the teams, notably as they told Ecclestone in a meeting in Monaco nine days ago that racing in December was "totally unacceptable", according to the Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn.
That message appears to have been ignored, with Ecclestone adding: "Of course they'd rather not be racing in December, but these are unusual circumstances."
To assess the situation in Bahrain the FIA embarked on a "fact- finding" mission this week that was conducted in conjunction with the ministry of interior, the ministry of culture and tourism, the Bahrain Motor Federation and Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). They reported that reinstating the grand prix would be "a means of helping to unite people as the country looks to move forward".
Officials in Bahrain maintain there will be no problems when it comes to staging the grand prix. Zayed R Alzayani, chairman of the BIC, said: "By the time the grand prix arrives we will be able to remind the world about Bahrain at its best. The Bahrain Grand Prix has always been a source of national pride and it is an event than transcends politics. Its positive effect will be felt throughout the country."
The teams, however, could yet have a say if they opt to make a stand, as is now expected of them. A McLaren spokesperson said: "All Fota teams [only Hispania Racing are not represented by the Formula One Teams Association] acknowledge the decision made by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. That decision is likely to be discussed internally within Fota, and a more detailed joint position may be defined after those discussions have taken place."
Alex Wilks, the campaign director for the international organisation Avaaz, said: "Formula One's decision is a kick in the teeth for the Bahraini people. Now F1, plus Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and every other team will be directly linked with a bloody crackdown that's ruined the lives of hundreds of innocent people."
Formula OneBernie EcclestoneMotor sportBahrainMiddle Eastguardian.co.ukFive concerns for Formula One teams over the Bahrain Grand Prix
The race's rescheduling in October after turmoil in the Middle Eastern kingdom has thrown up a number of problems
1 SafetyThe No1 concern for every team and every driver. The issue will have to be addressed comprehensively by the FIA and the Bahraini government, and the teams must be absolutely convinced there is no risk to them or any of their personnel. It will require more than last week's arbitrary lifting of the state of emergency and, importantly, their safety will have to be guaranteed before, during and immediately after the race. Driver concerns should not be taken lightly. Some have been expressing an extreme reluctance to attend a rescheduled race in Bahrain since the season began.
2 InsuranceCentral to all teams' cover is what advice the government is offering on visiting Bahrain. If it is "against all travel" they will not be insured and will be entirely liable should they travel. If the government advice is downgraded to "all but essential travel" they will be covered and would not be able to cite insurance as a reason for non-attendance. However, in March the Foreign and Commonwealth Office judged all travel to Bahrain as inadvisable; a repeat of similar circumstances, backed by FCO advice, would give teams a concrete justification not to take part.
3 PersonnelThe average team member is entitled to 20 days' annual leave, with many due more. If Bahrain replaces
Bahrain gets go-ahead for grand prix as rights activists condemn F1 decision
FIA chiefs reinstate Bahrain grand prix after original race was postponed because of clashes between protesters and regime
Bahrain has been granted permission to stage the most coveted event on its calendar, the Formula One Grand Prix, in a move that has drawn condemnation from human rights groups angered by a three-month crackdown against anti-regime protesters.
The event will be held in October.It had been originally scheduled for March but was postponed as clashes intensified between Bahrain's majority Shia population and the Gulf kingdom's security forces, heavily backed by the forces of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Pressure on organisers to not reschedule the motor race had been intense, with a Facebook campaign calling for cancellation getting 320,000 signatures. At least a quarter of staff from the Grand Prix's organising committee, Bahrain International Circuit, all of them Shia, were sacked in April after being accused of taking part in anti-government demonstrations.
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone had earlier indicated that staging the race in Bahrain would be difficult if widespread allegations of discrimination and torture against civilians were proven. Sports teams had lobbied Ecclestone and Formula One executives not to hold the event, citing numerous human rights violations.
The sport's organising body, the FIA, said: "After considering all the factors … and taking into consideration all stakeholders' concerns, the World Motor Sport Council unanimously agreed to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix … this decision reflects the spirit of reconciliation in Bahrain, which is evident from the strong support the race receives from the government and all major parties in Bahrain, including the largest opposition group, all of whom endorse the Formula One grand prix and motorsport in the country."
The decision has angered human rights activists. Alex Wilks, the Avaaz campaign director whose online poll to ban the race was backed by hundreds of thousands of people, including former world champion Damon Hill, said: "Formula One's decision is a kick in the teeth for the Bahraini people. The race will happen in a country where government troops continue to shoot and arrest peaceful protesters.
"Money has trumped human rights and good judgment, so now Formula One, plus Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and every other team will be directly linked with a bloody crackdown that's ruined the lives of hundreds of innocent people."
Amnesty International has claimed that serious human rights abuse continues in Bahrain; more than 2,000 people had been suspended or sacked from jobs because they had been part of protests.
Zayad R al-Zayani, the chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, hailed the FIA decision: "This is welcome news for all of Bahrain. As a country we have faced a difficult time, but stability has returned; with businesses operating close to normal, the State of National Safety lifted and countries removing travel restrictions.
"Importantly, it will also offer a significant boost to the economy. The Grand Prix attracts 100,000 visitors, supports 3,000 jobs and generates around $500m of economic benefit. Its positive effect will be felt throughout the country."
Three months of martial law imposed by the ruling monarchy were lifted this week, but recriminations from the anti-regime protests continue that have paralysed the kingdom are still being played out. Some of those arrested are still being tried in secret by a powerful judicial body set up under emergency laws. Several dozen doctors and nurses remain under arrest. And Human Rights Watch claims the number of people detained could top 1,000.
Clashes have continued in the four days since martial law was lifted, though not on the same scale as the running battles seen in mid-February and March. Security forces again fired rubber bullets and bird shot at demonstrators in several parts of Manama on Friday.
Authorities have been pursuing Shia opposition supporters who staged street marches to demand greater freedoms, equal rights and an elected government in the island kingdom. As the violence intensified, the calls for reform became calls for an overthrow of the 200-year-old Sunni dynasty, which demonstrators say actively discriminates against the country's majority Shia population.
The kingdom accused Iran of inciting the demonstrations and invited in Saudi forces under heavy pressure from Riyadh to help quell dissent.
The Formula One Teams' Association – which represents 11 of the marques, with Hispania Racing the exception – is to look into the FIA decision.
A McLaren spokesperson said: "All FOTA teams, of which McLaren is one, acknowledge the decision made by the FIA World Motor Sport Council today. That decision is likely to be discussed internally within FOTA, and a more detailed joint position may be defined after those discussions have taken place."
Hill, the 1996 world champion, and Max Mosley, the former FIA president, have both called for the Bahrain race to be abandoned, while Red Bull's Mark Webber is the only driver to speak out against the country hosting the race.
Formula OneBahrainMiddle EastMotor sportPaul WeaverMartin Chulovguardian.co.uk
Formula One teams must come together over Bahrain issue | Allan McNish
• Rescheduling of Bahrain Grand Prix will extend the season
• Teams foresee a multitude of difficulties with running the race
It is important to note amid the furore surrounding the rescheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix that the FIA's decision will not have been made lightly. And that, equally, the governing body will make no money from the race going ahead.
The vast sums associated with the debate apply specifically to Formula One. Any monetary gain from the decision will belong to Formula One, not the FIA, who will have weighed a vast range of factors to decide whether or not the race could go ahead. Having done so, any response or fallout from it lies firmly with Formula One.
So, I am sure the teams will have a voice on this decision, that it will be strong and that it will be heard; although the factors at play here are significantly more complex than they may appear on the surface.
Issues such as financial agreements, contracts, television rights, sponsors and the relationship between the organising bodies within Formula One, including the teams through the Formula One Team Association and the commercial rights holders represented by Bernie Ecclestone, will have to be weighed and assessed. Moreover, they will have to address these questions collectively and take them all into account while considering what might be the right thing to do.
If the teams feel strongly about it, and reports suggest they are strongly against it, then they are certainly in a position to make a convincing case and, if they foresee difficulties with running the race, to make their feelings known. But they will only be at their strongest when acting collectively.
Their response will, in part, be a product of how the decision directly affects them as teams. First, it shunts the season back to finishing in December, which will be sitting heavy with many. It's already a long tiring year, there's no question of that, that's why the mid-season break was brought in, and at the end of the season it's all away from Europe, there's a lot of travelling involved and there's a lot of time zone differences.
If the championship is done and dusted and Sebastian Vettel has won it again by the time you blast into that final section it's going to feel like a very, very long year indeed. At the same time, if that's the case, the teams will be focusing on 2012 in terms of development, but they will still have the season to see out right into December, making it a very heavy double load.
The main factors in terms of how tiring a season can be are governed by the number of races and the length of time between the first and the last. In this case, there will now not only be 20 races but the length of the season will be the longest for decades as well.
Equally, the emotional energy that everybody puts into a race is significantly more than just the physical energy, and, although there is no testing now, there are more races and that is far more draining. You can see it in the teams, you need time to recharge the batteries. That aspect of the rescheduling will be very, very tough for the guys.
But the drivers are the lucky ones; in January we can go off on holiday, but the engineers and mechanics have to go straight back into the office. It may lead teams to have increase their number of staff and employ double shift rotations – similar to the "test" teams of the past.
So the drivers aren't key in the issue of an extended season; it's all of the support behind the drivers that is most important, they're the ones who are constantly at work either racing or preparing for the next race. Expect any response from the teams on what is a highly contentious issue to have taken into account not only everything, but everyone involved as well.
Allan McNish raced in Formula One in 2002 and will be driving for Audi at the Le Mans 24 hours on Saturday
Formula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk