UK Foreign Office issue warning

The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning advising against 'all but essential travel to Bahrain'.

The announcement will add further pressure on to Formula One teams ahead of the decision whether or not to firstly hold testing in Bahrain and more importantly, the opening race of the Formula One season.

Teams will want assurances from the organisers of the event to make sure the safety of the teams will not be compromised.

While as F1 fans we are all hoping the situation can be resolved and quickly, the safety of all involved has to be the number one priority.

'As a team principal, my only concern is the safety of my people,' Renault team boss Eric Boullier Autosport Magazine.

'If, and I think it happened this (Saturday) morning, the Foreign Office in the UK says 'don't travel to Bahrain', this is my legal responsibility that none of my people are injured or hurt if I take the decision to send them there.

'Now I am concerned that if the FIA or FOM (Formula One Management) say we'll go and race there, I'll need some guarantees that obviously the security is guaranteed for my people.'

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has already stated that he is waiting to see what happens in the area over the weekend, with a decision whether or not to travel to Bahrain, set to be made at some point next week.

This weekend's GP2 Asia race at the Sakhir circuit was cancelled following the deaths of three political protesters after clashes with local police.