Bahrain in doubt yet again

[Masanari]

Knowing Sao Paulo myself, I think this is bollocks, and why the anonymity?

Edit: Actually, it really pisses me off all this comparison to Brazil. Who decided on this policy? I think they've been briefed to push this idea.

This. It is ludicrous to compare Bahrain with Brazil. There is basically a war going on in Bahrain while Brazil is nothing like that at all and people are just going on exaggerated media stereotyping.

 

[genjigonzales]

Knowing Sao Paulo myself, I think this is bollocks, and why the anonymity?

Edit: Actually, it really pisses me off all this comparison to Brazil. Who decided on this policy? I think they've been briefed to push this idea.

I get the impression that, for whatever reason, GPUpdate has an interest in downplaying the security situation in Bahrain. It may be something as straightforward as contempt for sensationalising every little thing that the rest of the media is engaging in.

The comparison with Brazil is clearly an attempt to portray each incident in Bahrain as as isolated an incident as the Button attempted kidnap. It's obviously obfuscation and spreading confusion but BIC has been doing that for months.

 

[Max Whiplash]

Clearly, there's a lot of pressure being put on the media out there. The Guardian have been reporting yet more journalists being refused entry to the country today.

 

[genjigonzales]

Sniffpetrol's opinion:

Formula 1 created fresh controversy this week with news that Anders Breivik is to be allowed to set up an F1 team.

The far-right Norwegian was originally granted permission to enter the sport last year but this licence was then withdrawn due to concerns that his behaviour was ‘unstable’. The sport’s ruling body vowed not to grant Breivik the right to enter a team until ‘stability’ had returned to his mental state. Although he has subsequently bombed Oslo and shot 69 people on the island of Utøya, F1 clearly considers this is now the case.

The decision to allow Breivik to enter Formula 1 is ‘not about the money’, according to F1 boss Bernard Ecclestone. ‘Anders Breivik is entered into Formula 1. It’s all scheduled,’ Mr Ecclestone said. ‘And although I essentially own, run and completely control the sport, I can’t do anything about that. It’s up to the teams.’

However, none of the current teams seemed willing take a stand against the inclusion of a mass murderer in the paddock. ‘We completely trust the decision of F1’s ruling body and it would be wrong of us to make assumptions about bringing a notorious terrorist into our ranks,’ said one unnamed team principle. ‘Though of course we see nothing wrong with failing to engage in any sort of debate about it and therefore appearing to endorse a dangerous psychopath who killed 77 innocent people’.

F1’s top drivers were equally unwilling to condemn Breivik’s arrival in the sport. ‘I’m a Formula 1 driver; it’s not my job to think about stuff,’ said one leading championship contender. ‘It’s my job to inadvertently portray myself as a weak, robotic component of the car with no opinions on anything’.

Meanwhile, those on the edge of F1 were more forthcoming in their views; ‘How can a man like Anders Breivik be allowed to run a team?’ said Maurice Ital of Every Other Sunday magazine. ‘He’s a dangerous, cruel, petty, deeply evil sociopath. He should be running the sport itself.’

Ecclestone offers his support:

Bernie Ecclestone rings me to say he offered to stay at track with Force India and travel back unescorted with them at any time

 

[DHCanary]

Anonymous sounds very ominous. I wonder whether they can actually target the teams computer systems themselves? Could the teams wake up tomorrow morning to find that all their data has been wiped, and the programs they hook the car up to no longer exist? And if they do - then what?

 

[El_Bando]

Sniffpetrol's opinion:

Bernie Ecclestone rings me to say he offered to stay at track with Force India and travel back unescorted with them at any time

Ecclestone offers his support:

I dont think that would make Force india feel more secure that they will be riding home with public enemy #2

 

[Kyle?]

I assume FI will be fined for leaving early.

 

[genjigonzales]

Anonymous sounds very ominous. I wonder whether they can actually target the teams computer systems themselves? Could the teams wake up tomorrow morning to find that all their data has been wiped, and the programs they hook the car up to no longer exist? And if they do - then what?

I'd expect team computers to be ultra-secure as a defence against each other.

I assume FI will be fined for leaving early.

No - they're entitled to skip Free Practice.

Sauber were also caught up in an incident on way back from circuit last night, a team spokesperson confirms to me. They were not targeted but some masked men ran towards their van. Driver pulled into another lane and got away.

 

[Max Whiplash]

I dont think that would make Force india feel more secure that they will be riding home with public enemy #2

Safer to accept a lift from Breivik.

 

[genjigonzales]

Sky just showed Ecclestone confirming that he made the offer.

Ecclestone unmoved about Bahrain situation and Force India's withdrawal from FP2: "I think you guys want a story and it is a good story."

Ecclestone on Bahrain drama: "What we really need is an earthquake or something like that, so you can write about that now..."

More on Sauber:

Sauber confirm mechanics were involved in an incident with a petrol bomb and masked men on the motorway to Manama on Thursday evening

 

[Max Whiplash]

Some people just don't give a ****, however. This is from the Guardian:

No one, it seems, wants to be here, apart from the race organisers, although the Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel struck a crassly insensitive note when he said: "It is not a big problem and I am happy once we start testing tomorrow because then we can start worrying about the stuff that really matters like tyre temperatures, cars …"

When he was told that a lot of people did not want Sunday's race to take place, he added: "I haven't met them. Maybe it is because I only arrived this morning. I haven't seen much of what people are talking about."

 

[El_Bando]

what a cucumber

 

[genjigonzales]

I read that Vettel had a wry smile on his face when he made the "stuff that really matters" comment. A poor joke, maybe (he is German).

Ed Miliband has found a new bandwagon:

Now hearing Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for #Bahrain GP to be cancelled. Pressure really building #f1

RT @politicshomeuk Miliband says he doesn't think the Bahrain GP should go ahead. Calls on the Government to "put pressure" on Formula One

 

[Max Whiplash]

Guardian again:

There are also rumours that Force India had another problem last night, on the way home. And yet another team, as yet unnamed, had their hotel invaded in the night by protesters who screamed "Murderers" at them.

 

[genjigonzales]

So Ecclestone has met with the team, heard their concerns, offered to give them a lift back to the hotel, and then come out abusing the media for misreporting the seriousness of the situation?

2@.

 

[Max Whiplash]

So Ecclestone has met with the team, heard their concerns, offered to give them a lift back to the hotel, and then come out abusing the media for misreporting the seriousness of the situation?

2@.

I wonder if any protesters will get anywhere near Bernie...

 

[genjigonzales]

lol @ Grauniad:

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The teams are trying to lock the stable door too, apparently:

Growing sense in press room that teams trying to figure out ways of escaping the GP this w/e. Bit late, IMHO. Should've spoken out earlier.

 

[Max Whiplash]

Very good

 

[El_Bando]

Was the picture of David Milliband part of the joke?

 

[genjigonzales]

Was the picture of David Milliband part of the joke?

I don't think they were making a joke. I think they just used the wrong photo.

Crown Prince, when asked if he would guarantee safety of F1 personnel, wholeheartedly guaranteed that he didn't think any violence was aimed at F1.

Team bosses press conference underway.

#f1 Team principals press conference now. F India's Bob Fernley says F1 is here to play a part in the healing process of Bahrain.

Cameron backs the reform that is underway in Bahrain and says cancelling the race is an issue for F1.