Bahrain organisers could oppose future Qatar GP bid

Bahrain organisers could oppose future Qatar GP bid

It has been announced earlier this week that the organisers of the Bahrain GP have made clear it does not think the Middle East can accommodate another grand prix as Qatar sets its sights on race in the near future.

Bahrain has an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone whereby any new races in the region have to get its go-ahead before being added to the F1 calendar. The deal could stand in the way of Qatar as it pushes for a grand prix of its own alongside neighbouring states Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

In an interview with the media this week, Bahrain’s F1 CEO Sheikh Salman bin Isa al Khalifa said he does not think the growing fanbase in the Middle East is big enough to accommodate a third grand prix every year. al Khalifa stated the following:-

“The thing with Mr Ecclestone is how he values friendship. He appreciates the step we took – as we were the first people to take a chance [In the Middle East.

'I think F1’s culture is growing [in the Middle East], and we can see it slowly coming about. But my personal opinion of having another race – wherever it is – I don’t think we are ready for that.'

From what al Khalifa has stated to the media this week in his interview, it is obviously clear that he feels that the relationship they hold with Ecclestone is of importance not just to them but also to the region too who were the first to host a Grand Prix in the Middle East and you have to respect them for being the first ones taking the risk to host a GP in the region.

Ever since being the first to host a Grand Prix in the Middle East in Bahrain, they also believe that the sport is growing as a result of hosting the Grand Prix and also new additions to the calendar such as Abu Dhabi. But he feels that it is a slow process and feels that adding Qatar to the line up could hinder the progress already made in the region.

However, the FIA vice president in the Middle East, Nasser Khalifa al Attiyah of Qatar, believes competition between events is good for the region and underlined Qatar’s ambitions to host an F1 race. In his own interview with the media, al Attiyah stated the following:-

'It is good for the region if there is a competition between countries in the region. Everyone wants to prove that they have better races, this has helped all of the countries.

'I treat the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) market as an open market. There are no rules for this market, you can have ten flights between Qatar and Bahrain or the UAE each day, so this has helped a lot of people to move very easily.

'For sure we went with a different direction in the beginning, with motorcycle racing, to be special in this region but for sure we have no doubts that we are thinking about Formula One and other car races.'

From what al Attiyah has stated in his interview this week, he believes that the region should embrace competition and he believes that this could help the region as they battle to make sure their Grand Prixs are of a high standard and also gives people the freedom of choice to select a Grand Prix they would like to attend.

It is clear that al Attiyah believes that this is a open market that still a lot of potential to be explored and even know he admits that Qatar may have gone in the wrong direction in regards to hosting an event in motorsport, he believes that they have a lot to offer Formula One and also other series too.

But all you can say about the subject is that even Qatar may want to host a Grand Prix in the near future, it is clear that the arrangement that Ecclestone has in place with Bahrain could affect Qatar's chances. Even though you can understand why Ecclestone has a special relationship with the hosts of the Bahrain GP as them being the first to host a Grand Prix in the region, Ecclestone is always looking for new markets and ways to expand the sport to secure its future.

But if Qatar can prove and demonstrate with the capital and also figures to show how this will benefit the country, the region and also Formula One as a sport, then Ecclestone may have to be forced to take them seriously and it could be sooner than we think too and I see it happening maybe in 2017 if Qatar continue on the path they are currently undergoing.

Sarah Jones