Bahrain Grand Prix scrapped again: Why Formula 1 abandoned the 2011 race

The Bahrain GP, which was originally due to take place on April 12, was cancelled due to the war in the Middle East. A few weeks ago it appeared that a race in Bahrain would still take place later in this season. However, with fighting in the region flaring up again, the teams were informed in Spa that there would no race in Bahrain this season. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was also scrapped in April while there is uncertainty over the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

News of the Bahrain Grand Prix being officially off the table this season, means there will be no race at the track in Sakhir for the first time since 2011 - when the race was originally scheduled to host the opening race of that season.

In 2011, Bahrain was set to host the season opener on March 13, but was cancelled around three weeks prior to the race. Widespread anti-government protests and escalating political unrest led Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to request the race be postponed.

On February 14th, civil unrest broke out in parts of North Africa and the Middle East amid the Arab Spring, with demonstrations demanding political reform across Bahrain. The 2011 GP2 Asia Series was due to race at the Bahrain International circuit across the weekend of February 18 and 19. However medical staff due to attend the track for that weekend's race were redeployed to hospitals in Manama, forcing the cancellation of the weekend's events.

Then on February 21, Prince Salman postponed the Formula One race due to the ongoing events, with a pre-season test scheduled in Bahrain between March 3 and 6 also being moved to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

At a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on June 3, FIA members unanimously voted to reinstate the Bahrain GP and it was placed on October 30, with the Indian GP being moved to the final race of the season on December 11. However, there was opposition to the plans with then Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn stating that a December finale was unacceptable.

Mark Webber was the most vocal driver, as the former Red Bull star said in the days that followed: "In my personal opinion, the sport should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year rather than constantly delaying its decision in the hope of being able to reschedule 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."

A petition to boycott the race received 300,000 signatures, and the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) wrote to the FIA and to F1's Bernie Ecclestone stating that it did not want the calendar changed at such late notice. Ultimately, Bahrain GP organisers abandoned efforts to stage the race in an announcement on June 10, due to controversy over rescheduling the race and extending the F1 season.