Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he was not happy Bahrain organisers used the acronym ‘F1′ in its political slogan for last weekend’s race.

The F1 chief executive was highly supportive of the island Kingdom’s intensely controversial return to the sport’s calendar, insisting Bahrain will retain its grand prix “forever”.

But when asked about the banners around the Sakhir circuit and the island Kingdom that read ‘UniF1ed’, 81-year-old Ecclestone admitted to the Mirror: “We never put it there.

“We told them to take it down, not to use it. I saw other things, not like that.”

But Sakhir circuit chief Zayed Alzayani wore a cap bearing the slogan throughout the grand prix weekend, even when in Ecclestone’s company.

Briton Ecclestone, however, denied the Bahrain slogan only intensified the opposition’s anger.

“Before they started using that slogan there was trouble about F1,” he insisted.

“People make excuses but there are only two sports where politics come into it; us and the Olympics because the profile is big enough.

“There was a big golf match in Bahrain before F1 arrived and there was no problems there.

“We are not here to tell people how to run their country.”

Ecclestone, however, was angry with some of F1′s British journalists in Bahrain, following their harsh criticism of the decision to push ahead with the race.

“I saw Bernie get angry in the press room with some British journalists,” revealed O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper correspondent Livio Oricchio.

“I had never seen him that angry.”

Force India on Friday will run a shortened second practice session in Bahrain.

The BBC reports that staff members, some of whom were caught up in a Molotov cocktail attack earlier this week, want to pack up early in order to avoid travelling back to their hotels in darkness.

Deputy team boss Bob Fernley confirmed to Reuters that Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta will therefore run limited second practice programmes, and may skip the session altogether.

Other reports quote him as saying Force India will however take part in qualifying and the race.

Respected British commentator and former grand prix driver Martin Brundle, however, thinks the island Kingdom has “never looked better”.

“Clearly, there is some trouble out there,” he told Sky, “but I’ve not seen any of it.

“Some journalists have gone looking for it and unfortunately the trouble found Force India.

“My view is this: F1 can’t run away from this,” Brundle insisted.

A support-race team and a respected journalist have become the next to pull out of this weekend’s highly controversial Bahrain grand prix.

The Porsche Supercup team MRS said its decision to skip the support race in the divided island Kingdom is the “first time in our history that we have had to cancel”.

“In the end we have the responsibility for our employees,” said team boss Karsten Molitor, citing security concerns.

Another withdrawal – joining the sacked Williams catering staff member, and the TV broadcasters Sky Deutschland, Fuji TV and MTV3 Finland – is the respected correspondent for O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Livio Oricchio.

“I have decided in agreement with Estado to not go,” he said. “We had the tickets for the entire season, except for Bahrain and the United States, because there was a doubt they would be run.

“Like many journalists, I will not be at Sakhir,” Oricchio admitted.

“I always believed that the race would not take place, and I’m still not 100 per cent sure that something will not happen that will lead the FIA or FOM to cancel.”

Indeed, following the sport’s decision to push ahead, the pressure on formula one to cancel at the eleventh hour has only intensified.

Nabeel Rajab, the leader of the government opposition group Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, admitted that the next protests – ‘three days of rage’, to coincide with the race’s three-day calendar – are aimed specifically at F1.

“We’re protesting to show anger at formula one for conducting the race here,” he is quoted by the BBC.

And the wife of a well-known jailed Bahraini activist who is on a long hunger strike, added: “I am not angry with the government… what makes me angry is people like Ecclestone who decide to come to Bahrain because he thinks everyone is happy.”

Italy’s La Stampa reports that F1 personnel have been advised to stay away from restaurants and shops, while “girlfriends and wives stay at home”.

That’s not entirely true, as Felipe Massa touched down at the airport on Thursday with his wife and baby son.

And Giedo van der Garde, the reserve driver for Caterham, said he has found Bahrain peaceful since his arrival on Wednesday.

“I’ve not been here long,” he is quoted by Auto Hebdo, “but everything seems quiet. Obviously, there’s a heavy police presence,” the Dutchman continued.

“But I haven’t seen any trouble or anything. Let’s hope it stays like that.”

Marco Canseco, the correspondent for the Spanish sports daily Marca, said he witnessed a “minor altercation” in the capital Manama on Wednesday.

“Then all the teams and everybody were able to get to the track for work without a hitch, the same on return,” he revealed.

Many are protesting the race going ahead on moral grounds, others due to security fears, whilst others fear for F1′s image.

“The ongoing debate about Bahrain is the only damage to the high gloss of the exciting 2012 season so far,” agreed Austria’s Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

Rubens Barrichello has advised his friend and countryman Felipe Massa to remember to enjoy his job, amid rumours the Brazilian is speeding towards the exit at Ferrari.

Speculation is rife that amid his apparently worsening performance slump, Massa will be replaced by the famous Italian team — perhaps as soon as within the 2012 season.

F1 veteran Barrichello, who has switched to Indycar this year after losing his Williams seat, told Brazil’s Globo Esporte that he thinks Massa’s problem is psychological.

“It’s not a speed problem,” he said, “it’s something that he needs to solve within himself.

“He has to close his eyes and enjoy, remembering that he does this because he likes it.

“Every time that I lost a little bit, it was because I had forgotten that I did it because I liked to. So we (drivers) have to relax and improve that way.

“(For Massa) it is just a moment, and every moment and race in formula one is a cycle of life.”

Barrichello’s advice for Massa may be particularly relevant, as he was at Ferrari during Michael Schumacher’s ultra-successful reign last decade.

Now, it is Fernando Alonso who is the Maranello team’s favoured son.

“Of course Ferrari loves Alonso, because he is one of the best, if not the best who is there (in F1) now,” said Barrichello, 39.

“So, it’s tough for Felipe.”

Barrichello also laughed at the results of a recent fans’ poll in the Italian media that showed he would be a highly popular choice as Massa’s replacement.

“It was very unexpected,” he said. “Maybe it was a way (for journalists) to see if Italians would pick an Italian driver, and suddenly I win.

“It is a very public business and shows that I must have left something behind,” added the winner of 11 grands prix.

Now less than three weeks before the island kingdom is scheduled to host its return to formula one, bitter protests and violence have once again erupted in Bahrain.

Witnesses claim a 22-year-old man who was filming the firing of tear gas on protesters was shot and killed by state-supporting militia on Friday.

The death – reportedly the first since last year’s troubles forced the cancellation of the 2011 race and test – intensified the clashes and calls for the forthcoming grand prix to be axed.

The government has denied it is responsible for the death.

“The ministry of interior will do all it can to find the criminal and bring him to justice,” a spokesman is quoted as saying by the Times of London.

The ministry also confirmed that Nabeel Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has been arrested.

He had said last week: “We are going to use the opportunities that a lot of journalists are there (for the grand prix) and we are going to protest everywhere.”

The protests, however, continued.

“We (object to) holding a sports race that belittles the sacrifices of our children and ignores our suffering and wounds,” said a video statement posted on the internet by a protester.

“Do not tarnish the reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims.”

And on Twitter, the hashtags #BloodyF1 and #noF1 are being used to protest against the race and link to graphic photos and videos purporting to depict government violence.

F1 team bosses turned out in force as officials insisted next month’s Bahrain grand prix is definitely on.

The sport’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone joined Sir Frank Williams, Martin Whitmarsh, Christian Horner, Mercedes’ Nick Fry and Pirelli’s Paul Hembery at a media lunch in London.

“Talk about heavy support,” wrote Reuters correspondent Alan Baldwin on Twitter.

The self-described ‘PR offensive’ to promote the forthcoming Bahrain grand prix followed reports earlier this week that said the FIA had decided to cancel the race due to ongoing unrest in the island Kingdom.

“It’s all nonsense. We’ll be there as long as they want us,” said Ecclestone.

“Seriously, the press should just be quiet and deal with the facts rather than make up stories.”

If it was up to the drivers, though, they might give it a miss. Timo Glock is a brave lone voice: “Why should we expose ourselves to unnecessary risk?” he asked rhetorically.

“If it was up to me, we wouldn’t go there,” he told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Bahrain circuit boss Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al-Khalifa, however, dismissed the risk of violence.

“These incidents can happen anywhere,” he told AP news agency. “It’s not going to stop our grand prix.”

Ecclestone added: “I don’t need any personal security, but whatever’s necessary will be looked after.”

According to a poll in popular British magazine F1 Racing, 60,000 of the 100,000 F1 fans polled internationally said it is “not right” for the race to go ahead.

Looking forward to the event, however, is the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

Nabeel Rajab, the president, is quoted by the Telegraph: “(F1) is helping dictators and we are going to protest.

“We are going to use the opportunities that a lot of journalists are there and we are going to protest everywhere.”

 Two formula one journalists are on the board of the Caterham Group, the parent company of the Tony Fernandes-led team.
Team boss Fernandes announced the formation of the Group at the Brazilian grand prix on 27 November last year.

UK Companies House records show that Joe Saward and David Tremayne were appointed as directors just nine days later.

In the company filing, Briton Saward’s occupation is listed as “journalist/consultant”.

“The nature of Saward and Tremayne’s roles in Caterham are as yet unknown, but one would assume Joe will announce something on his popular F1 blog during the next few days,” Steve Davies, of the skiddmark.com website, said.

Bernie Ecclestone could be sued at the conclusion of former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky’s corruption trial.
The trial, surrounding a multi million payment from the F1 chief executive to Gribkowsky amid the sport’s sale some years ago, began this week in Munich.

According to a British newspaper report, prosecutors say that if Gribkowsky is found guilty, the $44 million must be paid to BayernLB because the Munich bank owned the relevant share in F1′s commercial rights.

But as Ecclestone and his family trust have only been called as witnesses, the prosecutors would “have to sue Mr Ecclestone and the trust to recover the … shortfall suffered by BayernLB”, the Independent said.

But “it is hard see how this could succeed, given that the bank’s investigations showed that it agreed to the fee and other board members were aware of it”, wrote journalists Christian Sylt and Caroline Reid.

 The interest in Ferrari’s 2012 front wing in Korea left Fernando Alonso annoyed.
“I think it’s to do with the team, not the journalists,” La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes the Spaniard as saying in Korea, where his 150 Italia was fitted with the radical new wing.

Media reports analysed in detail the difference between the new and old wing and its performance in Korea relative to the regular specification driven by Alonso’s teammate Felipe Massa.

“As I’ve said before, in these last four races we need to learn a lot about 2012,” Alonso said. “Gaining or losing a tenth is a very low priority at the end of this season compared to finding the direction for next year’s car.

“We are working with a specific goal that is not easy for you (reporters) to understand,” he added.

“I do not think the readers are interested to get up in the morning and read about three or four points of downforce, certain diameters — I think they want to know who is fourth or fifth or whether you are working for the grand prix or the next year.

“The details seem very superficial to me.”

On the radio towards the end of Sunday’s Korean grand prix, Alonso was heard to tell his team “I give up” — a call rarely heard from the double world champion.

Alonso insists his focus is on what will make the 2012 season better.

“I will come to work (in 2011) to gain experience for the things for next year,” he is quoted by AS sports newspaper. “We can try some experimental parts and also (experiment with) how to deal with the weekends.”

The 30-year-old is currently third in the drivers’ championship.

“If we can get one tenth (for the 2012 car) from the information and yet finish fifth in the championship, I would sign it now,” insisted Alonso.

“No one expects us to come to India and have the pole and the win. Expect us to be fourth or fifth in qualifying and third, fourth or fifth in the race,” he said.

Little has changed at Korea’s Yeongam circuit since the calamitous inaugural grand prix a year ago.
Bild newspaper reports the ghastly news that, when some teams opened the fridges in their paddock offices this week, food left over from the 2010 event remained rotting on the shelves.

And Williams revealed that the stickers on the team’s hospitality suite still show Nico Hulkenberg driving for them, while the words ‘Mark Webber’ and ‘Sebastian Vettel’ on the floor of the garage had to be painted over by McLaren.

“It looks as though they locked the gates after the last race and simply unlocked them yesterday,” one source is quoted as saying.

Said Sebastian Vettel, who has won two world championships since last visiting Korea: “It’s funny, thinking about everything that has happened since then.”

Another bone of contention is the circuit’s location in Mokpo, hundreds of kilometres from Seoul and with the drivers all staying in the same five-star Hyundai hotel.

For the less affluent team members and journalists, they are still having to stay in so-called ‘love motels’, while the entire Williams team is staying in Gwangju, an hour from Yeongam.

“Here in the south it’s really a little too quiet,” said Vettel. “I think basically there hasn’t been a lot going on since we left.”

The fact Yeongam still seems barely finished has raised speculation about financial problems for the event.

“It is true that we are struggling in terms of profit because of the high investment and high cost structure,” said chief organiser Park Joon-yung.

The F1 world can expect a much better experience at the Korean grand prix this weekend.

When the barely-finished Yeongham venue hosted its inaugural race a year ago, officials, drivers, team members and journalists bemoaned the sub-standard facilities and organisation.

Another bone of contention was the so-called ‘love motels’ accommodation, normally frequented by prostitutes and their clients.

“Last year, we had many difficult problems holding the very first Korean grand prix,” race chairman Park Joon-yung told the local JoongAng daily.

“However, based on the experience and knowledge we gained last year, I am confident that the event this year will be much improved.”

The early reports from those checking into their hotels and arriving at the circuit this week is that the situation in Korea this year is vastly improved.

“We’re hoping for a slightly easier race this year than last. 2010 was very difficult for a number of reasons,” said FIA race director Charlie Whiting.

The weather should also be much better this weekend, after torrential rain disrupted last October’s inaugural race.

Nico Rosberg is reportedly yet to receive a visa to enter India for the country’s inaugural formula one grand prix.
That is the claim of the Times of India, revealing that other F1 team members and journalists are experiencing simular difficulties whilst preparing to travel to Delhi next month.

The rumours had begun to emerge in the Monza paddock last weekend.

“I just came back from Monza where people have been complaining about how difficult it is to get visas for the trip to India,” said Team Lotus reserve driver Karun Chandhok, whose father Vicky is the head of India’s motor sport clubs.

Amid the recent tax and customs issue surrounding F1′s freight, the Indian government admitted this week that it does not regard the grand prix – organised by a fully private entity – as an “event of national importance”.

One figure who has had his visa application rejected, according to the Times of India, is Mercedes driver Rosberg.

The same is also true for “half” of the HRT team, the newspaper added.

Even the FIA’s head of communications is still waiting for his visa.

“If the government takes three weeks to process a visa application, almost 90 per cent of F1 people, me included, won’t attend the race,” Matteo Bonciani warned.

Stefano Domenicali was baffled on Friday when reporters asked for his thoughts on a war of words with Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner.

“Me? That’s the first time that I hear that,” said the Ferrari team boss.

Media reports said Horner had responded angrily to some recent comments made in the specialist press by Domenicali, including the suggestion that Red Bull is a one-man team with star designer Adrian Newey at the helm.

And the Italian had told a German newspaper that Sebastian Vettel is not yet a true leader.

Horner hit back by insisting that Red Bull doesn’t “disrespect or underestimate the achievements of our peers”.

When told Horner apparently had a problem with some of his comments, Domenicali said: “That’s a new one. I will speak with him, without speaking to journalists. I want to see what he’s saying.

“I don’t think that I’ve said something strange but it’s interesting to see Christian’s reaction. Maybe he will have something to say to me. He knows my telephone number,” added the Italian.

Lewis Hamilton is considering a move from Switzerland to Monaco.
The Telegraph reports that the 2008 world champion is waiting for a vacant apartment on the glamorous Principality’s Avenue Princesse Grace.

The report said the 26-year-old wants a “livelier lifestyle” than the one he has in Switzerland, but another factor could be the country’s new income tax laws.

The UK government will share information with its Swiss counterpart that could mean residents like Hamilton have to pay millions in backdated tax.

“I am quite happy in Switzerland but it (Monaco) is definitely an option,” said the McLaren driver.

He admitted that Monaco is a “spiritual” home for F1 drivers, including his McLaren teammate Jenson Button.

“Yeah,” said Hamilton, “but I wouldn’t move for spiritual reasons. I love where I live in Zurich, it is a spectacular place to live and it would be hard for me to leave there.”

Hamilton meanwhile returned to the British newspaper headlines on Saturday following his latest reaction to criticism of his driving style and off-track personality.

“I’ll take my driving style to my deathbed, for sure,” he is quoted as saying.

“People overreact to everything. You make a squeak and people overreact to it. That’s the way of this world,” said Hamilton, adding that F1 journalists do a lot of “yapping”.

Jaime Alguersuari reacted angrily on Thursday after journalists expressed doubt about the health of his formula one career.
The Spaniard had kept cool in the official FIA press conference at Valencia, when reporters asked him about rumours Daniel Ricciardo could replace him at Toro Rosso before the end of the season.

“At the time it was just one more rumour among all the thousands of others.

“But at the end of the press conference I realised for the first time that I’m sick and bored of all the nonsense.

“Apparently the rumour has more weight than the comments of (team chiefs) Franz Tost or Helmut Marko. I’m not worried about my future.

“I am sure of myself and feel the appreciation and the respect of the whole Red Bull organisation,” insisted Alguersuari, 21.

“If someone wants to know more about my future, or Buemi’s or Ricciardo’s, there is only one authority — Helmut Marko. Any other source is not valid.

“It’s stupid and I’m bored of it,” he concluded.