Bahrain villagers protest against F1 race as memory of last year's riots casts cloud on approaching Grand Prix

By Mike Dawes

Published: 07:55 EDT, 31 March 2013 | Updated: 08:56 EDT, 31 March 2013

Tensions in Bahrain are beginning to run high again with the controversial Grand Prix circus soon to return to the country. 

After the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 14, the multi-million pound race will descend upon Bahrain again on April 21. 

This picture, taken on Easter Sunday, shows foreign labourers in the village of Barbar, west of the capital Manama, collecting equipment against a wall sprayed with graffiti in protest at the upcoming race.

Protest: Foreign laborers let their feelings known as Formula 1 prepares to return to Bahrain

Riots: Last year the scenes were unsavoury for both Formula 1 and the country itself

The controversial race took place last year in the middle of fierce anti-government protests and the race track had to be heavily guarded by police, dogs and armoured vehicles to keep activists away.

On the day before last year’s race, protests intensified after the body of a Shia man killed in overnight clashes with security forces was discovered on a rooftop.

Many protesters wanted the race to be cancelled, but the government was determined it would go ahead, while demonstrators set up barricades of burning tyres and police fired tear gas.

Meanwhile, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve says Sebastian Vettel is wholly to blame for the current tension with team-mate Mark Webber - and sees parallels with the incident which led to his father Gilles’ death.

There was clear resentment between the Red Bull pair after last week’s Malaysian Grand Prix, when Vettel overtook Webber to win the race despite both drivers being instructed by their team to slow down and preserve their positions.

Equality: The protesters were demanding an end to discrimination against the majority Shia community

Gilles Villeneuve was killed in a 1982 accident while trying to beat the qualifying time of then Ferrari team-mate Didier Pironi.

The pair had fallen out at the previous Grand Prix at San Marino when Pironi defied team orders to pass Villeneuve on the final lap for victory - a situation echoed by last week’s incident between Vettel and Webber.

Sullen: Mark Webber would not look at Sebastian Vettel on the podium

And Jacques Villeneuve told Auto Bild: “It’s easy to make excuses but in the end, Vettel’s got the win and the points. Mark has nothing. It was a deliberate decision by Vettel.

'The team give you the contract and pay you the money, and so you do what they want you to do. It’s very simple.

'Ignoring is just plain wrong. The best example is my father and Didier Pironi. Just look at the problems that caused.

'(Vettel’s) behaviour was just stupid. Such negative energy does not help the team. If he now needs help from Mark, he cannot be sure he will get it.'

Disobeying: Vettel (left) goes round the outside of Webber after his team had ordered him to hold position