Damon Hill warned yesterday against a violent crackdown on pro-democracy supporters threatening to target the Bahrain Grand Prix as concern rises that the Gulf kingdom’s showpiece race could again spark widespread protests.
A year on from the debacle of a grand prix overshadowed by fears for the safety of Formula One personnel, and street protests condemning the sport for acting as a puppet of the ruling regime in Bahrain, the 1996 world champion and Sky Sports pundit said that F1 must not be a lever for repression. Fears are growing that protesters are poised to take to the streets to use the race to spotlight their demands for democratic reforms.
Richard Burden, chairman of the House of Commons all-party motor group and a specialist on