The controversial Bahrain Grand Prix came under renewed threat yesterday as two Force India employees flew home after team personnel were forced to flee protesters hurling petrol bombs.
The incident happened when four Force India team members were unwittingly caught up in a battle between security forces and anti-government demonstrators. They were stuck in traffic after leaving the Sakhir Circuit just outside the capital Manama.
TEAR GAS AND FLAMES
The driver of the 4x4 escaped through a gap in the flames while tear gas seeped into the vehicle. Two of the men were later given permission to fly home after expressing serious concerns about their safety.
Those involved were said to be angry at the decision by the organisers to allow the race to go ahead. It is understood one of the men telephoned a high-ranking Force India official during the incident informing him he had counted eight Molotov cocktails being thrown, one of which landed close to their car.
As a consequence, Force India have beefed up their security. Team cars have been fitted with trackers and will travel in close company. In addition, Force India employees are endeavouring to leave the circuit before nightfall.
MORAL VALUES SHUNNED
A member of Williams’ catering staff was released last week after being found to be in breach of contract for expressing her unwillingness to travel to Bahrain on moral grounds.
But Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley insisted he had no qualms about allowing two of his employees to return home. ‘We respect totally their position,” said Fernley. “If they are feeling uncomfortable, or their families are, then we respect that.”
The incident provoked a forthright response from Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg. He said: ‘We shouldn’t have been put in this position. It is obviously not right that that sort of stuff happens. The F1 business is about entertainment and these things should not be happening to us.’
Hulkenberg’s team-mate, Scot Paul Di Resta, added: “There is an edge to things at the moment. We’ve all said we’d take direction from the FIA because they said it is safe but we need to see how things develop.”
VETTEL NOT WORRIED
Their views were contrasted by those of Red Bull’s double world champion, Sebastian Vettel, who appeared to have misread the seriousness of the situation.
“It is not a big problem,” said Vettel. “I am happy once we start testing because then we can start worrying about the stuff that really matters, like tyre temperatures and cars. I haven’t seen anyone throwing bombs. I don’t think it is that bad. There is a lot of hype.”
Organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix tried to play down the flashpoint. Circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani said: “It was an isolated incident. My wife was involved, too. The protesters were not targeting the cars. They just happened to be there. Nobody was injured. I don’t command the police; they know what to do better than I do. I have a race to run.”
One more incident of the nature which befell Force India and Alzayani may find he does not have a race to run after all. Former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police John Yates, who is employed by the Bahrain government to advise on police reform, has already admitted that the safety of Formula One teams cannot be guaranteed.
Friday is traditionally the day when the most serious disturbances occur.
It is also the start of the ‘three days of rage’ being promised by the radical February 14 Youth Movement. -Daily Mail