Following a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Tuesday it has been announced that a decision on the possible rescheduling of this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be postponed until May 1.
The Sakhir race was due to take place from March 11-13, but the Kingdom of Bahrain withdrew from hosting the opening round of the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship in order to focus on a new process of national dialogue to resolve the country’s current political situation.
The season opener will now take place in Australia from March 25-27.
On May 1 Bahrain’s Crown Prince – HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa – is expected to inform the FIA about the possibility of hosting a race in the country, and then together with Formula One Management, the FIA will make a final decision about a new slot for the race during the 2011 season.
Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone had hoped a new date could be settled on before the season got underway, but given the circumstances, it was mutually agreed that a final decision would be made in May.
When asked recently if the calendar’s 20th race could be held somewhere else, Ecclestone said: “We don’t need an alternative race anywhere in Europe or any other place. We need a race in Bahrain. If the Crown Prince is of the opinion that his country is able to host a race we will return to Bahrain.”
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