Mark Webber has slated the FIA’s decision to return to Bahrain this year following a WMSC meeting which chose to reinstate the race on October 30th.
The Red Bull driver has been outspoken about the sport returning, earlier saying on Twitter that ‘the issues are bigger than sport’ and that he hoped the right decision would be made.
However, with the news that Formula 1 will return, the Australian has criticised the decision and says he doubts the race will actually go ahead, whether that be a boycott by the teams or a further outbreak of unrest.
“My opinion is unchanged since I was first asked about this in late February,” said Webber. “Even though a decision has been made, I’ll be highly surprised if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year.”
Webber believes the wrong decision has been made and he had hoped the governing body would have taken a stronger stance.
“In my personal opinion, the sport should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year rather than constantly delaying its decision in hope of being able to re-schedule it in 2011.
“It would have sent a very clear message about F1’s position on something as fundamental as human rights and how it deals with moral issues.
“It’s obvious that the parties involved have struggled to reach a decision but sadly I feel that they still haven’t made the right one.
“Like it or not, F1 and sport in general isn’t above having a social responsibility and conscience. I hope F1 is able to return to Bahrain eventually but now isn’t the right time,” he added.
“As a competitor I do not feel at all comfortable going there to compete in an event when, despite reassurances to the contrary, it seems inevitable that it will cause more tension for the people of that country. I don’t understand why my sport wishes to place itself in a position to be a catalyst for that.”
