• Bahrain Grand Prix

We fully respect the FIA's decision on Bahrain - Horner

ESPNF1 Staff
April 13, 2012 « Bahrain GP will go ahead - FIA | Ecclestone calls for an end to Bahrain speculation »

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he fully respects the FIA's decision to go ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix and has welcomed some clarity over the issue with just a week to go before the event takes place.

The teams met with Bernie Ecclestone in the paddock on Friday following an announcement from the FIA that the Bahrain Grand Prix would be taking place in the troubled Gulf state. Several team members have anonymously expressed concerns about the event over the last two weeks, but speaking after the meeting Horner welcomed the clarity over the issue.

"It's an FIA world championship and they've come out with a statement today that is very clear," he told Sky Sports. "They've been in consultation with all the relevant parties and we fully respect their decision.

"The confusing thing has been uncertainty so for everybody here in the paddock it's clear that there will be a race in Bahrain next week."

However, a report in the Times suggests some of the teams' sponsors are showing signs of trepidation about being associated with the event and that "a number of high-profile backers have pulled out of providing hospitality for guests".

One source told the Times: "When you have an environment like Bahrain then all the sponsors will be watching developments very, very closely and talking to each other. It's a case of 'watch this space' basically."

However, the newspaper said it is unlikely any major sponsors will pull their logos from the cars.

"(They) will effectively just have to follow the sport," said Tim Bampton, of the motor sports marketing company Just Marketing. "They will have to watch and wait to see what happens even though they could be caught in the vortex."

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