F1: Ecclestone Says Bahrain Still On After Meeting Team Bosses

Formula 1

F1: Ecclestone Says Bahrain Still On After Meeting Team Bosses

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has reaffirmed the position of the FIA that the Bahrain GP will run as scheduled...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted April 13, 2012 Shanghai (CHN)

Bernie Ecclestone's desire for a London GP is no secret. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Bernie Ecclestone met with the F1 team bosses in Shanghai on Friday at lunchtime and insisted afterward that the Bahrain GP is still going ahead and that there are no problems.

The teams used the opportunity to express their concerns, but Ecclestone denied that the subject had even been the main focus of the meeting.

“I just asked if anybody had any problems, and everybody said no problem at all,” he said.

“This race is on the calendar, it’s been on the calendar for quite a long time. We will be there. All the teams are happy to be there.”

Asked whether he had any concerns, he said: “Not at all. We haven’t got any problems.”

Questioned about doubts expressed in the media, he added: “That’s the problem. It’s been discussed by the media; they don’t have any idea what’s going on.

“I know people that live there, and it’s all very quiet.”

When asked by Sky News whether he was going to the race, he said: “What a stupid question. You’re going to get a stupid answer. What would you expect?”

Regarding the political aspect, Ecclestone said: “What F1 has done for Bahrain is put Bahrain on the map. They will sort out their internal problems, I’m quite sure.

“I’m happy that our position is quite clear: We don’t get involved in the politics in a country.

“We had some problems in England recently,” he added.

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.