The Force India outfit will skip some or all of the second practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix amid safety concerns for their employees.
Completing the session, which begins at 14:00 local time, would result in the team travelling from the circuit to their hotels in darkness.
Following Wednesday’s events, in which a team car was caught up in a clash between protestors and police, the team aren’t happy to take such a risk.
Their plans to skip the session became apparent when both Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta ran the softer compound tyre to collect data – something which isn’t often seen in FP1 due to the poor track conditions.
Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley did however confirm that the Silverstone based team are committed to racing on Sunday, following a meeting with Bernie Ecclestone.
“FOM is keen for us to participate in all events, but the most important thing is the race,” he told Autosport. “And that is where we will be and that will be the window we are looking at.”
Ecclestone reportedly offered to remain at the circuit with Force India until the last mechanic had left, and travel with the team unescorted to Manama.
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