Apr.13 (GMM) F1's governing body has moved to end the uncertainty about next week's Bahrain grand prix by insisting the race will definitely go ahead.

"The FIA confirms that the 2012 grand prix of Bahrain will go ahead as scheduled," the Paris federation said at the end of a long media statement, explaining its decision.

Until now, whilst plenty of speculation has been circulating the Shanghai paddock, very little has been said on the record.

For example, in Thursday's FIA press conference, a question about Bahrain was met with total silence by Bruno Senna, Vitaly Petrov, Paul di Resta, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Narain Karthikeyan.

In fairness to Spaniard Alonso, he was later quoted by RMC Sport: "I think sport is not the biggest problem right now in Bahrain.

"I think that if we do not go, it will be accepted."

Red Bull's Mark Webber was another rare voice.

"We are all human," he told reporters. "We all have morals, irrespective of whether we're sportsmen.

"There's no beating about the bush -- it is sensitive out there."

Indeed, with the decision now made to race, security in Bahrain will undoubtedly be tight -- particularly after one anti-race group promised 'three days of rage'.

"We have a bullet proof car (in Brazil)," Jenson Button noted, "we have a police escort too. In Bahrain it has never been necessary."

German television presenter Kai Ebel admitted he would rather not go.

"I'm a sports reporter, I'm not Antonia Rados," he told the Cologne Express newspaper, referring to his RTL colleague who is a well-known war reporter.

Marussia's Timo Glock has also admitted he would rather skip Bahrain.

"A grand prix is the ideal thing for opponents of the regime to really get their message across," he is quoted by Speed Week.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games