Race will go on despite protests

The Crown Prince of Bahrain and Bernie Ecclestone yesterday stood side by side and issued a unified message this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead.

It came on a day when a group of 50,000-plus protesters marched along the Budaiya Highway towards the former Pearl roundabout, the symbolic site of last year’s crushed uprising, before being dispersed by rounds of tear gas and pepper spray, along with sound bombs.

Plans for a demonstration close to the circuit ultimately failed to materialise as dissident group, the Coalition of the Youth of the Feb 14 Revolution, opted instead to focus their attention on the rally close to capital Manama.

Another factor was the overwhelming police presence surrounding the Bahrain International Circuit where Prince Salman insisted any cancellation of tomorrow’s race would “empower extremists”.

Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg was fastest in yesterday’s second practice session.

The Mercedes driver, fresh from his maiden grand prix win after taking the chequered flag in China, posted a lap time of one minute 32.816secs in the afternoon. Red Bull duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were second and third behind the German, clocking times of 1:33.262 and 1:33.525, respectively.

Fourth place went to McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, with Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher fifth and Jenson Button sixth in his McLaren.

The Force India drivers, having impressed in the morning, did not compete in the second session due to safety concerns.

Deputy team principal Bob Fernley decided it would be safer for his staff to leave the track in the comfort of daylight rather than risk returning to their hotel in the dark.