Adam Cooper F1

The situation in Bahrain became more critical overnight as security forces using tanks and other military vehicles moved on the camp site set up by protesters.

The BBC reports this morning: “Hundreds of riot police using tear gas and batons moved into the square before dawn on Thursday. At least two people died in the police operation, according to the opposition, while 100 sustained injuries.”

The BBC’s Ian Pannell added that “the brutal response of the authorities makes it clear that the ruling family saw this as a threat to its grip on power.”

CNN reports: “Police were able to clear the roundabout of thousands of protesters and hours after that, convoys more than 50 military armoured personnel carriers each armed with machine guns drove into the area. Convoys included trucks carrying razor wire.”

Time magazine says: “Hours after police retook control of the plaza, the tiny island nation was in lockdown mode. Tanks and armored personnel carriers were seen in some areas — the first sign of military involvement in the crisis. Police checkpoints were set up along main roadways and armed patrols moved through neighborhoods in an apparent attempt to thwart any mass gatherings.”

A leading UN official has this morning urged the authorities to show restraint.

“I urge the authorities to immediately cease the use of disproportionate force against peaceful protestors and to release all peaceful demonstrators who have been arrested,” said High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.

“Too many peaceful protesters have recently been killed across the Middle East and North Africa. Authorities everywhere must scrupulously avoid excessive use of force, which is strictly forbidden in international law. They must conduct prompt, impartial and transparent investigations where there have been breaches of this obligation.”

The latest news has inevitably increased fears for the safety of F1 personnel. With pre-race testing starting on March 3 hundreds of F1 team members are due to be in the country for two weeks, with some arriving several days before the test.

GP2 teams are already in the country for the Asian series event, with action due to start today.

It remains to be seen whether Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA are willing to make a timely call on whether it is appropriate for the race to go ahead as planned, with the eyes of the world already on the country.

The test means that the decision will have to be made within the next week, before team personnel and the cars fly to Bahrain.

It’s clear that the Grand Prix could become a point of focus for protesters, as it is the country’s most prestigious international event and is a pet project of the ruling family. Indeed it’s possible that the government will insist on the Grand Prix going ahead at all costs in an attempt to show the world that all is well.

However, even if there is security in and around the track, just moving around the rest of the country will be a stressful undertaking for visitors. Team bosses and media organisations may now be reluctant to take responsibility for sending their employees to the country.

The safety risks aside, there is now the separate question of whether F1 should be seen to be taking a “business as usual” approach and heading to Bahrain as if nothing has happened. Sponsors may also be getting itchy feet about associating their brands with such a hot political climate.

If the race does take place, the situation is certain to have an effect on the attendance both of sponsor guests and spectators, with ex-pats and locals from elsewhere in the region normally making up a large part of the crowd.

It’s been reported that even citizens of neighbouring Saudi Arabia have already cut back on visits. Saudi businessman Ahmed Ibrahim told the Gulf Daily News: “I refuse to go to Bahrain because of the protests. I worry the situation may go out of control and it will not be good for non-Bahrainis to be present.”

Robert Kubica’s doctors are pleased with the Pole’s progress after an operation on his elbow today.

This is supposed to be Kubica’s final operation for the time being.

A Renault statement tonight outlined the details: “As scheduled, Robert was back in surgery today as doctors at Santa Corona Hospital treated the complex fracture to his elbow.

“The operation lasted eight hours in order to stabilise and reconstruct the damaged fragments of the delicate joint structure. At the end of the surgery, the doctors were pleased with the outcome, with the procedure being completed successfully

“Robert will remain in intensive care for a few days as he recovers from this latest operation.”

Nick Heidfeld - right place, right time...

To no one’s great surprise Nick Heidfeld has been confirmed at Lotus Renault GP, following his successful test in Jerez on Saturday.

The German should now get four more days of running at Barcelona and Bahrain before the first race.

“I would have liked to come back to Formula 1 in different circumstances,” said Heidfeld. “But I’m proud to have been given this chance. Everything has happened so quickly, but I’ve been very impressed by what I have seen so far in terms of the facilities and the dedication of the people at Enstone. I really enjoyed the test last week in Jerez and I’ve already settled in well with the guys at the track. I have a good feeling for the car, which is quite innovative. I’m extremely motivated and can’t wait for the season to begin.”

Eric Boullier added: “The team has been through a very difficult couple of weeks and we had to react quickly. We gave Nick a chance in Jerez last week and he really impressed us. He’s quick, experienced and is very strong technically with his feedback and understanding of the car. We always said the priority was to have an experienced driver in the car and we feel he is the ideal man for the job. We are pleased to welcome Nick to the team and look forward to a strong start to the season with him and Vitaly in Bahrain.”

The Bahrain GP organisers issued a statement tonight saying that they are monitoring the situation and “will respond appropriately” to developments.

Civil unrest in the kingdom has cast doubts over the upcoming GP and more urgently the test session that’s due to start on March 3. Although it doesn’t say much at least it indicates that the authorities are aware that they may have to act.

The statement read as follows: “In the light of recent events in the Kingdom of Bahrain and attendant coverage in the international media, the Bahrain International Circuit has today (Tuesday) issued a statement regarding the forthcoming Formula 1 testing on March 3-4-5-6 and the Gulf Air Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on March 11-12-13.

“Bahrain International Circuit CEO, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, said: ‘The safety of all Bahraini nationals, expats and overseas visitors is a priority at all times in the Kingdom and, at the Bahrain International Circuit, our focus at the present time is on delivering another successful event in the form of the 2011 Gulf Air Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. We are monitoring the situation very closely indeed in association with the relevant authorities, and will respond appropriately to any further developments.'”

Lotus Renault has acted quickly to refute suggestions in the media that Robert Kubica’s condition has worsened.

Reports earlier today quoted the Pole’s girlfriend Edyta Witas saying his physical and psychological condition had deteriorated over the weekend

In contrast today’s statement from the team said. “The latest update on Robert is that his condition remains positive. He will stay in intensive care for the next couple of days to allow a complete check-up and to avoid another change of department before his final operation.

“His good general condition means that the final surgery (on the elbow) is scheduled for Wednesday.”

Rubens Barrichello set the fastest time of both the day and the week as testing came to an end in Jerez today. The Brazilian put the spotlight on a Williams team that had been beset by KERS-related issues for most of the test.

Cold and windy conditions made life difficult for the teams today, and there was an exciting conclusion when rain fell at the end of the day. After a restart following a red flag there was a window of less than 10 minutes for drivers to have their first ever go on Pirelli wet tyres, although only Barrichello, Alonso, Rosberg and Buemi took advantage.

With the quicker times spread over the four days the top five drivers overall were Barrichello (19.8s), Schumacher (20.3s), Heidfeld (20.3s), Massa (20.4s) and Alonso (20.4s). With Williams, Mercedes and Renault at the head of the field everyone is going to have plenty to think about before the next test in Barcelona on February 18, and it’s clear that the true picture has yet to emerge.

Second fastest today was the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi, while Alonso was third for Ferrari and Buemi – who pipped the Spaniard to the fastest wet time during that brief shower – fourth.

Bruno Senna had the Renault R31 to himself and was fifth overall after a solid day in the car. The team has said he’s not a contender for the race seat, but he is at least now better prepared for the third driver job.

Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button were well down the order for RBR and McLaren respectively.

Lotus Renault GP said today was about ‘evaluating’ Nick Heidfeld, but in reality the German would have had to have suffered a total disaster today for the team not to select him as Robert Kubica’s replacement.

In fact he made his appointment a formality by setting the fastest time. While as ever no one knows exactly what all the teams were up to, it wasn’t a low fuel qualifying run as he set the time at the start of a stint of several laps. As well as getting used to the car Heidfeld tried a new floor and all four Pirelli compounds.

“I really enjoyed the day,” said Heidfeld “It was fun driving the car, although it obviously takes time to get used to things when it’s your first time in a car and working with a new team. We had a good day, without too many problems, and luckily all the changes we made to the car went in the right direction and improved things, so I was able to push harder and harder. In terms of the lap times, it’s very difficult for me to compare with the other teams because we don’t know the fuel levels or what the others were doing. My first impressions of the car were positive, although there are always areas where you can improve.”

Team boss Eric Boullier added: “Today we had the chance to give Nick time in the car and we carried out a big evaluation. Our first feelings are very positive: he worked well with the team, gave good feedback and improved the car during the day. We managed to cover 86 laps and the times are encouraging, which is also thanks to Robert and Vitaly’s early feedback and the hard work of everybody in the team.”

Pat Symonds has returned to F1 with Marussia Virgin Racing in a consultancy role.

Symonds – who is not allowed to have a hands-on operational job until the start of 2013 – has been retained by one of the team’s shareholders.

Team President Graeme Lowdon confirmed to this blog today: “Pat is working as an independent consultant, and he’s advising us. He’s not coming to the races or anything like that. It’s a very positive thing for us as he has got a huge amount of experience, and experience is a scarce resource for us as a newer team. I’m sure Pat can bring a lot of value to the team.”

He previously worked with Virgin technical director Nick Wirth at Benetton in the late nineties.

Symonds left Renault after the 2009 Italian GP in the wake of the ‘Crashgate’ scandal. He later received a five-year ban from the sport, in the form of the FIA threatening to take away the licences of any teams that might try to employ him.

That decision was then challenged in January 2010 by France’s Tribunal de Grande Instance, which found against the WMSC’s decision.

In April it was agreed with the FIA that Symonds and Flavio Briatore would have to stay away from the sport only until the end of 2012. An FIA statement read: “They have undertaken to abstain from having any operational role in Formula One until 31 December 2012, as well as in all the other competitions registered on the FIA calendars until the end of the 2011 sporting season.”

Robert Kubica has given his first interview to the media since his accident, and has made it clear that he wants to be back in the course of the 2011 season.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Pole said that he had bounced back stronger from previous setbacks, namely the road accident in 2003 that left him with a badly broken left arm, and the spectacular crash in Montreal four years ago.

“It happened in 2007, after the crash in Canada,” he said. “There are skills and motivation that will come out, I’ll be stronger as a driver.

“The fingers work, the arm also. But I have to work and only then will I know”.

Kubica says he remembers nothing of the accident. He also apologised for the shock that he’d given his parents, and thanked the F1 personalities – including Fernando Alonso, Tonio Liuzzi, Jean Alesi and Flavio Briatore – who have been to visit him.

“It was nice to see Briatore, an exceptional person. Then I saw Alonso, Lopez, Petrov, Alesi, Liuzzi: beautiful, the track does not let you ever see the true face of the people.”

He also said he wasn’t sure if he would continue to take part in rallies, although he insisted that participating had helped to make him a better driver.

Kubica will undergo further surgery today on injuries that the doctors did not prioritise in the initial seven-hour operation on Sunday.

Ferrari has now formally confirmed that the new F1 car is the F150th Italia and not the F150, having been busy changing all references on the company website today.

Ferrari makes it clear that it does not agree with Ford’s viewpoint, and remarkably seems to claim that F150 was a sort of shorthand for the real name – the one that we heard for the first time today.

The statement, which will surely be held up as a shining example by PR lecturers for years to come, makes for entertaining reading:

On the subject of the name of the new Ferrari Formula 1 car, the Maranello company wishes to point out that it has sent a letter of reply to Ford, underlining the fact that the F150 designation (used as the abbreviated version of the complete name, which is Ferrari F150th Italia) never has, nor ever will be used as the name of a commercially available product – indeed there will definitely not be a production run of single-seaters.

In fact, it has always been the case in the history of Scuderia names, that they represent the nomenclature of a racing car project and are linked to a chronological order with a technical basis, or in exceptional cases, to special occasions. This year, the decision was taken to dedicate the car name to a particularly significant event, the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, an event of such great importance that the Italian government has declared, for this year only, a national holiday.

For these reasons, Ferrari believes that its own contender in the forthcoming F1 championship cannot be confused with other types of commercially available vehicle of any sort whatsoever, nor can it give the impression that there is a link to another brand of road-going vehicle. Therefore it is very difficult to understand Ford’s viewpoint on the matter.

Despite this and to further prove it is acting in good faith and that it operates in a completely correct manner, Ferrari has decided to ensure that in all areas of operation, the abbreviated version will be replaced at all times with the full version, Ferrari F150 th Italia.