Reinstating Bahrain Grand Prix will cost F1: Mosley
June 5th, 2011 - 7:13 pm ICT by IANSLondon, June 5 (IANS) Former FIA president Max Mosley says the decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix will “cost Formula One dear”.
Mosley, who held the post in the motorsport’s top governing body from 1993 to 2009, feels the FIA played into the hands of the Bahrain government, who according to him, wants to “clean up” its image in front of the world post the anti-government protests in the Gulf nation.
The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council met in Barcelona Friday and accommodated the Bahrain race in October, pushing the inaugural Indian Grand Prix towards the season finale in December.
“It is worth remembering that the trouble in Bahrain began with a peaceful protest. The crowds were not seeking the removal of the ruling family, merely a move towards democracy and rights for the Shia majority comparable to those enjoyed by the Sunni elite,” Mosley wrote in his column for The Telegraph Saturday.
“These modest demands were soon met with brutal repression. Demonstrators were shot dead. Protesters were imprisoned and, according to credible reports, hideously mistreated, even tortured and killed.
“Having carried out these horrific acts, the Bahrain government wants to clean up its image. That is where the Grand Prix comes in. By running the race they hope to show the world the troubles were just a small, temporary difficulty and everything is now back to normal.”
Mosley admitted that sport can be used as an instrument of peace in most cases but by agreeing to conduct a race in Bahrain, the FIA has ended up complying with the “repressive” local government.
“By agreeing to race there, Formula One becomes complicit in what has happened. It becomes one of the Bahrain government’s instruments of repression. The decision to hold the race is a mistake which will not be forgotten and, if not reversed, will eventually cost Formula One dear,” said 71-year-old Mosley.
- FIA: Bahrain race to take place as scheduled - Apr 13, 2012
- Bahrain GP organisers say F1 race on - Feb 20, 2012
- Force India team vehicle survives fire bomb in Manama - Apr 19, 2012
- Bahrain unlikely, Indian GP may get back October dates - Jun 08, 2011
- Indian Grand Prix will be now F1's season finale - Jun 03, 2011
- Ecclestone asks F1 teams for re-vote on Bahrain GP - Jun 07, 2011
- Wanted a race in Bahrain as they have helped F1: Ecclestone - Jun 11, 2011
- Indian GP confirmed for Oct 2012, US round also included - Dec 08, 2011
- FIA asks Bahrain organisers to decide on Formula One grand prix by May 1 - Mar 09, 2011
- From pastime to Formula One: 107 years of India's motorsports - Oct 22, 2011
- Uneasiness in Force India as two members leave Bahrain (Lead) - Apr 20, 2012
- Karun Chandhok moves to touring cars - Jan 12, 2012
- Vettel takes pole, di Resta 10th in Bahrain - Apr 21, 2012
- Vettel, Webber, Button for FIA awards night in Delhi - Dec 04, 2011
- Bahrain Grand Prix deadline to be extended: Ecclestone - Apr 29, 2011
Tags: bahrain government, bahrain grand prix, brutal repression, credible reports, crowds, demonstrators, fia, formula one, governing body, horrific acts, motorsport, move towards, peaceful protest, president max mosley, protesters, protests, running the race, season finale, world motor sport, world motor sport council