Reaction towards cancellation of Bahrain GP

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Journalists Slam FIA, Todt, Over Bahrain Handling

FIA President Jean Todt is under fire for not being more vocal on the situation surrounding the Bahrain GP.

A group of British journalists are highly critical of Jean Todt's leadership during the saga leading up to the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

When the unrest in the island Kingdom first began, FIA president Todt told reporters during a trip to Ireland that he would not "overreact," insisting that "at the moment there is no reason to have unnecessary concern."

But as the peaceful protesters then clashed more violently with Bahrain's security forces, raising strong calls for the season opener to be called off, the FIA and Todt went silent.

Finally, as the Bahrain royal family called off the race late on Monday, the FIA issued a three paragraph statement confirming that it "supports the decision."

The statement also made clear that it will be the sport's Paris based federation that decides if the race can be held later in 2011.

A group of British journalists are openly unimpressed.

Daily Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary described the situation as a "complete lack of direction from the sport's governing body."

Via Twitter, The Times reporter Kevin Eason agreed: "I still say the FIA's lack of leadership has been astounding. Where is Max (Mosley, former FIA president) when you need him?"

The Mirror reporter Byron Young described the official FIA statement as "late" and "irrelevant."

Eason agreed: "A press release from the FIA arrives. They are alive!"

Ian Parkes, who covers Formula One for the Press Association, tweeted when he received the statement: "The FIA finally speaks."

Young, describing the FIA as "worse than useless" throughout the Bahrain affair, continued: "You can criticize Max Mosley for many things, and he'd take them on the chin, but he was a good leader.

"Todt has been Mr. Invisible so far."

Cary, agreeing that the "silence from Paris has been deafening" in recent days, offered one possible explanation for Todt's reluctance. He said the Frenchman's "relationship with Bahrain is a particularly sensitive one. The Bahrain royal family has close ties to FIA President Jean Todt."

Cary added that the Bahrain king's second son is a member of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council "and played a key role in Todt's election in 2008."

Meanwhile, Bahrain's crown prince is "a shareholder in Nicolas Todt's — Jean Todt's son's — (GP2) team," he reported.




Late F1 season start to aid struggling teams

The cancellation of the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix gives teams an extra two weeks to get their act together and perhaps reduce the gap between the current pace setting teams.

With McLaren’s new MP4-26 not the best car in the field currently in terms of pace or reliability, Lewis Hamilton said he was happy that the championship starting in Australia “gives us more time” to prepare. “We have some catching up to do and not a lot of time until the season starts,” he said.

BBC commentator and former McLaren driver Brundle agreed: “It (the extra time) will help some teams that were struggling to make fast and reliable cars. “It will play into their hands,” he told the BBC.

But Mark Webber, with arguably the best car in the field in his hands in the Red Bull RB7, countered: “I don’t think the extra two weeks will make a huge difference.

“It’s the same for everybody. We are always prepared to race in two weeks,” said the Australian.

“The freight will still have to leave for Melbourne pretty early,” added Webber. “I suppose you’ve got another 10 days’ headroom, but it is swings and roundabouts.”

His former Red Bull teammate David Coulthard has a similar opinion.
“This is one area where I don’t necessarily agree with Martin,” the Scot, who will share the BBC commentary box with Brundle in 2011, wrote in his latest Telegraph column.

“From the feedback I am getting, it seems Ferrari and Red Bull are currently at the head of the queue so, by implication, he is suggesting it could help Mercedes and McLaren.

“Yes, McLaren will have an extra two weeks of factory time but so will Ferrari. And with just one test to go they won’t have any more track time to test parts or work on reliability,” Coulthard insisted.