Amidst the ongoing Arab Spring protests in Bahrain, where the political situation remains unchanged since a revolt was brutally put down last year, Bernie Ecclestone decided to bring Formula One back to Bahrain after missing it off the calender last year when a revolution looked on the cards. The Bahraini royal family took the opportunity to portray the event as a symbol of unity (they used the F1 logo in the word UniF1ed to make the point) and made sure protesters were kept well away from the race, although this didn't prevent a returning group of Force India being caught between riot police and protesters on Wednesday evening after practice. Indeed the protests have been more widespread this year than last. Some 200,000 people marched down the Budaiya Highway, towards the capital Manama. Amnesty International has remained critical of the Bahraini government for its human rights abuses, notably the imprisonment of doctors for treating injured protesters, and the torture of prisoners.

I used to be very much into motor racing and Formula One, and watched the likes of Prost, Senna, and Mansell driving like lunatics around dangerous circuits with all the relish that an 8 year old boy can foster for all things dangerous. When I was old enough, I had a tattoo inked on my shoulder of Tazio Nuvolari, motorsport's first true superstar. It looks truly dreadful, but fortunately I cannot see it and am only reminded of its presence by the complaints of my girlfriend, and occasional surprised comments if I happen to go to the beach. Back then, the reputation of Formula One was tarnished by its lackadaisical safety standards, and by lingering in Aparteid South Africa as late as 1985, long after all other sports boycotted the place. Recent events have shown Formula One to be the same establishment that ignored political oppression in favour of making money.

All it would have taken to stop the situation would have been for one driver to throw a spanner in the works, and say 'Fuck this, this isn't right, I'm not racing here.' If that had happened then it would probably have snowballed into a mass boycott and a cancellation of the race, but not a single head poked above the parapet. It feels strange to criticise people who drive at 200 miles an hour in reinforced go-karts for having no balls, but I hope if I were to be in such a position I would at least have the gumption to make a stand where it needs to be made.