Bahrain confident of keeping F1

Barnaby Read 17:56 19/04/2015
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  • Bahrain has hosted an F1 Grand Prix since 2004.

    Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier of Bahrain is optimistic of extending the Bahrain Grand Prix’s F1 contract beyond 2016, reportedly telling press this weekend: “It’s possible that you will hear something soon.”

    With Bahrain’s F1 current contract coming to an end at the end of this year, interest from Qatar to host an event has sparked rumour that Sakhir could lose its place on the calendar. 

    With Abu Dhabi signing a new ‘multi-year contract’ beyond 2016 in November last year and Qatar edging ever closer to bring Formula One to the country, Bahrain seems the most threatened destination.

    Prince Salman remained quietly confident of Bahrain’s chances of retaining its F1 status, especially regarding its status as the first race to be hosted in the region.

    “This is the normal process and we’re moving through it,” the Crown Prince was quoted as saying. “I believe as the first race in the Middle East we’ve proved the importance of this race and of its followers, and Abu Dhabi has followed us.

    “There might also be future races in the area, but Bahrain will always retain its place.”

    F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone hinted at a new deal for Bahrain this weekend, but also alluded to interest from Qatar.

    “I don’t know at the moment, a lot of people talk to us. It’s possible to have three races close together, depending on where they are. Here, I don’t know, but the Gulf region is so big,” said Ecclestone.

    Speaking to Sport360 at the Grand Prix, the Bahrain International Circuit’s commercial director, Sharif Al Mahdy, explained the decision was one for the F1 race organisers to thrash out with the Qatari Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) chiefs.

    One of said bosses, Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, said as recently as February that a deal was imminent to bring an F1 race to Qatar, either in Losail or at a new night street race in Doha.

    The latter would certainly appear to endanger the future of Bahrain which is in its eleventh year on the Formula One calendar.

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