F1 boss Eccleston may cancel Bahrain Grand Prix

With Formula 1 testing well under way in Spain and the drivers jockeying for position ahead of the first race, the anti-government protests and violence in Bahrain have put the opening Grand Prix of the 2011 season in jeopardy.

Rights holder Bernie Ecclestone says that if the situation in the Gulf state does not settle down over the next few days then he will be forced to cancel the race, which is due to take place on March 13. A decision is expected to be taken next week.

To complicate matters further the final round of testing before the start of the season is also due to happen in Bahrain between March 3 and 6 and the teams have already begun freighting equipment to the kingdom by sea.

Because of the logistical complexities of staging a Grand Prix, and with much of the kit already en route to the Gulf, it would be impossible to rearrange the race elsewhere. But the final round of testing could be held in Spain, where the teams are currently putting their new cars through their paces.

Ecclestone, the ringleader of the F1 circus, said on Thursday: "If it's not quietened down by Wednesday, I think we will have to cancel probably."

And Virgin racing team principal John Booth told the BBC: "Our sea freight, like every other team's, left for Bahrain a month ago, and a lot of the equipment in the sea freight is vital to the running of the cars. So to run it somewhere else would be very difficult."

What was billed as the final European testing session gets underway today at Barcelona, with most teams now fine tuning their cars after four previous sessions - three of which have been on the new Pirelli tyres that will be used during the 2011 season.

Red Bull appear to have picked up where they left off last season, but Ferrari are not far behind in their new model. Meanwhile McLaren unveiled their new car last weekend, but failed to make a major impact in the practice sessions at Jerez, although they are still working on the vehicle.

F1 is no stranger to close calls. Last season the Yeongam circuit in South Korea only got the green light to host a race 10 days before its inaugural Grand Prix was due to take place there. ·