2011 Bahrain Grand Prix

Cancelled round of the 2011 Formula One season November 2021 Bahrain Bahrain Circuit Bahrain.svg Planned for 13 March 2011 2011 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit,Sakhir, Bahrain Permanent racing facility 3.37 5.412 57 191.530 308.238 The 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix (officially the 2011 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix) was scheduled to be the opening round of the 2011 Formula One World Championship. Planned to be held on 13 March 2011 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, it was postponed on 21 February 2011 due to civil unrest. On 3 June, it was announced that the race would be held on 30 October, which would have made it the 17th of 20 Grands Prix held during 2011. Following controversy over the reinstatement of the race, organisers of the Grand Prix abandoned their bid to host a race in 2011. Postponement On 14 February 2011 (later to be known as the Day of Rage), civil unrest broke out in Bahrain as part of a series of protests across North Africa and the Middle East.Richter Frederik 14 February 2011 Protester killed in Bahrain "Day of Rage": witnesses en Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bahrain-protests-idUSTRE71D5MS20110214 3 November 2021 As a result of the unrest, medical staff due to attend the practice session for that weekend's Bahrain GP2 Asia Series race were redeployed to hospitals in Manama, forcing the cancellation of the Thursday practice session. Later that day, it was announced that the whole weekend would be cancelled at the request of the local motoring federation. Bahrain GP2 Asia race cancelled http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89525 Jonathan Noble Autosport 17 February 2011 18 February 2011 Chief executive of the Bahrain International Circuit Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who was also the crown prince of Bahrain, stated that "[his] focus ... is on delivering another successful event in the form of the Bahrain Grand Prix." Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration, stated that he hoped that talks with Al Khalifa would ease his fears that the event might be cancelled. Vice President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab said that it would be hard to bring a quick end to the protests.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9399251.stm Bahrain Grand Prix officials quell fears over safety BBC Sport 17 February 2011 16 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140513173855/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9399251.stm 13 May 2014 live Ecclestone stated that "If its [the protests] not quietened down by Wednesday [23 February], I think we will have to cancel probably."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9400392.stm Bahrain unrest sparks concerns ahead of new F1 season BBC Sport 17 February 2011 17 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140510200524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9400392.stm 10 May 2014 live Protesters were quoted stating that "the only reason" the Crown Prince was willing to talk with the protestors was for the sake of holding the race.Bahrain race postponement rumours grow http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/02/20/bahrain-postponement-rumours-grow-as-protesters-target-race/ Keith Collantine F1 Fanatic Keith Collantine 20 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110222123934/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/02/20/bahrain-postponement-rumours-grow-as-protesters-target-race/ 22 February 2011 live On 21 February 2011, Prince Salman postponed the race due to the ongoing protests. A pre-season test scheduled at the Bahrain International Circuit from 3–6 March was also delayed and moved to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain.Bahrain Grand Prix off after anti-government protest https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9402871.stm BBC Sport 21 February 2011 21 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110224052658/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9402871.stm 24 February 2011 live The organisers were later given until 1 May to decide whether they want to proceed with the race at a later date. Bahrain decision to be taken in May http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89789 Jonathan Noble Autosport 8 March 2011 8 March 2011 Provisional reinstatement and cancellation thumb|left|Bernie Ecclestone at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix In April 2011, the race organisers released a statement stating that "normal life has returned to Bahrain" and that they were hopeful that they could host the race later in the year.13 April 2011 Bahrain grand prix organisers looking to reschedule race this year http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/apr/13/bahrain-grand-prix-formula-one live 3 November 2021 The Guardian https://web.archive.org/web/20211103195103/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/apr/13/bahrain-grand-prix-formula-one 3 November 2021 On 2 May 2011, Bernie Ecclestone extended the deadline on rescheduling the race to 3 June. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/13224497 Bahrain Grand Prix decision has deadline extended BBC Sport 2 May 2011 10 May 2011 At a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on 3 June, FIA members unanimously voted to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix to the calendar on the planned date of 30 October, with the Indian Grand Prix moved from that date to 11 December. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/13608826 FIA approves return of Bahrain Grand Prix to Formula 1 calendar BBC Sport 3 June 2011 4 June 2011 The decision was controversial, with Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn stating that a December finale was unacceptable,http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8257321 Bahrain GP return angers F1 teams Tim Collings WWOS 4 June 2011 4 June 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120330071339/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8257321 30 March 2012 while human rights interest groups and activists criticised the FIA for the reinstatement in light of the ongoing political upheaval in the country. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jun/03/bahrain-grand-prix-human-rights Detour of Bahrain would be the best way of recognising human rights Paul Weaver The Guardian 3 June 2011 4 June 2011 London https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-03/formula-one-criticized-for-rescheduling-bahrain-race-after-demonstrations.html Formula One Is Criticized After Rescheduling Grand Prix in Bahrain Alex Duff Bloomberg 3 June 2011 4 June 2011 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula_one/13647475.stm Decision 'a very sad moment' BBC Sport 3 June 2011 4 June 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110604112245/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula_one/13647475.stm 4 June 2011 Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber expressed his concerns over the human rights conditions and stated that he would have hoped for the sport to have taken a firmer stance on the affair. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91981 Webber critical of Bahrain decision Matt Beer Autosport 4 June 2011 4 June 2011 Several other drivers expressed a willingness to race on the condition that their safety could be guaranteed amid reports that widespread protests were being planned for the day of the race.http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92034 Concerns mount over Sakhir decision Autosport Haymarket Publications 6 June 2011 6 June 2011 Jonathan Noble A petition to boycott the race received 300,000 signatories. In response to this, FIA president Jean Todt promised that the sport's governing body would monitor the situation in Bahrain carefully, leaving open the possibility of a cancellation should the country deteriorate ahead of the race,FIA will still monitor Bahrain situation http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92046 Jonathan Noble Autosport.com Haymarket Publications 6 June 2011 7 June 2011 while commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone called for a second vote to take place, restoring the Indian Grand Prix to its original October date and moving the Bahrain Grand Prix back to the season finale in December.Bernie Ecclestone leads call for new vote on Bahrain Grand Prix https://www.thetimes.com/article/bernie-ecclestone-leads-call-for-new-vote-on-bahrain-grand-prix-3jfhntj2mbc Kevin Eason The Times Times Newspapers Ltd. 7 June 2011 7 June 2011 According to former FIA president Max Mosley, the rescheduling of the race would require the unanimous agreement of the teams.Mosley: No chance Bahrain will go ahead http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92053 Jonathan Noble Pablo Elizalde Autosport.com Haymarket Publications 7 June 2011 8 June 2011 It had been reported that the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) was opposed to rescheduling the race to 30 October on logistical grounds, but were willing to discuss an end-of-season berth for the race instead.FOTA requests delay to Bahrain return http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92061 Jonathan Noble Autosport.com Haymarket Publications 7 June 2011 7 June 2011 On 8 June, Ecclestone stated that he felt the race would not go ahead because the FIA had overlooked article 66 of the Sporting Code, which states that "no amendments can be made to the arrangements for a championship after entries open without the agreement of all competitors."https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/13694628 Bahrain GP cannot happen, says Bernie Ecclestone BBC Sport 8 June 2011 8 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110608111629/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13694628.stm 8 June 2011 live The FIA later asked Ecclestone to submit a new calendar proposal after they were informed by FOTA that holding the Bahrain Grand Prix on 30 October was "impractical".http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92093 FIA asks Ecclestone for new calendar Autosport Haymarket Publications 9 June 2011 10 June 2011 Jonathan Noblehttp://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92094 FOTA told FIA calendar 'unrealistic' Autosport Haymarket Publications 9 June 2011 10 June 2011 Matt Beer On 9 June, organisers for the Bahrain Grand Prix officially abandoned their bid to return to the calendar.http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92109 Bahrain gives up on 2011 race Autosport Haymarket Publications 9 June 2011 10 June 2011 Jonathan Noble See also 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix protests Background of the 2011 Bahraini uprising Bahrain Grand Prix Politics and sports Timeline of the 2011 Bahraini uprising 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, whose original April date in Bahrain was called off due to the 2026 Iran war before the race was relocated to Malaysia References Bahrain Grand Prix cancelled amid political turmoil Bahrain Grand Prix 2011 N/A N/A 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain Grand Prix Grand Prix, 2011 Category:Politics and sports Bahrain Grand Prix 2011 Category:Formula One controversies