JUNE 5, 2011

Webber critical of Bahrain reinstatement

Red Bull driver Mark Webber spoken out about his disappointment that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been reinstated on the F1 calendar at the end of October.

Mark Webber, Turkish GP 2011
© The Cahier Archive

Red Bull driver Mark Webber spoken out about his disappointment that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been reinstated on the F1 calendar at the end of October.

On Friday the FIA World Motor Sport Council announced that it had voted to reschedule the race - which had been postponed from it's March date due to political unrest in the country - on 30 October, and shifted the inaugural Indian Grand Prix as the season closer on 11 December.

Since the announcement there has been much grumbling amoungst the teams, but Webber has written on his website that he is disappointed by the decision, saying, "My opinion is unchanged since I was first asked about this in late February. Even though a decision has been made, I'll be highly surprised if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year."

"In my personal opinion, the sport should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year rather than constantly delaying its decision in hope of being able to re-schedule it in 2011. It would have sent a very clear message about F1's position on something as fundamental as human rights and how it deals with moral issues. It's obvious that the parties involved have struggled to reach a decision but sadly I feel that they still haven't made the right one. Like it or not, F1 and sport in general isn't above having a social responsibility and conscience. I hope F1 is able to return to Bahrain eventually but now isn't the right time."

"As a competitor I do not feel at all comfortable going there to compete in an event when, despite reassurances to the contrary, it seems inevitable that it will cause more tension for the people of that country. I don't understand why my sport wishes to place itself in a position to be a catalyst for that."