Formula One Association under pressure to make final decision on Bahrain GP

London, Apr 8(ANI): The Formula One Association (FIA) chief executive, Bernie Ecclestone, is under pressure to make a final decision on whether to conduct the Bahrain Grand Prix or not.

In the face of rising pressure both from within the sport and out, the entire F1 circus is preparing to depart for China early next week for the first of back-to-back races terminating in the controversial race at Sakhir two weeks on Sunday.

Former F1 champion Damon Hill, who has changed his mind in recent weeks about the astuteness of staging a race in the kingdom said that he is worried the sport will appear indifferent to the situation in Bahrain.

An anti-government protester was shot dead last weekend in Bahrain, and international human rights groups are highlighting the plight of jailed activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, who has been on hunger strike for 58 days

"I think at the moment it is hotting up, which is not a good state of affairs to be wanting to go to Bahrain, when it is actually getting more inflamed. We have Alkhawaja in a serious situation, with two weeks to go," The Telegraph quoted Hill, as saying.

"It is a very difficult call and my concern is that F1 is perceived to be indifferent, and that would be really damaging for F1," he added.

"I think under the right circumstances it would be OK. I don't doubt that they could hold the grand prix, but in order to hold the grand prix they would have to impose very serious security measures to prevent protestors making their point, then it would appear that the event is taking place on one side of the argument," he said.

British politician, Richard Burden MP endorses Hill's viewpoint. He said: "Bahrain is nothing like as bad as the terrible situation in Syria." (ANI)