Bernie Ecclestone insists F1 will return to Bahrain

Bernie Ecclestone has insisted that Formula 1 will return to Bahrain and that the race will keep its place on the calendar despite the widespread calls for this year’s race to be cancelled.

Having defied international pressure to race in the troubled kingdom state, Sunday’s grand prix passed off relatively quietly, with protests at the circuit limited to the arrest of two female demonstrators. Yet despite the weekend being by no means a success – Sky Sports pundit Ted Kravitz described the event as the “most controversial I’ve known in sixteen years reporting on the sport” – Ecclestone remains adamant that F1 will return to Bahrain.

Asked whether the race had a future, he told Reuters: “Absolutely. Forever. No problem.”

Ecclestone also maintained that far from damaging the sport, the controversy which engulfed Sunday’s race had in fact boosted F1.

“I think it’s good because people talk about things, you know. You know what they say – there is no such thing as bad publicity,” he said.

“It’s growing all the time, and other places are interested. I think it will grow here for sure.”