Bahrain in 2011 ’of course not on’ - Ecclestone

With the on-off 2011 Bahrain GP saga becoming farcical, Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday announced his sport "of course" cannot go to the troubled island Kingdom later this year.

Prior to the FIA last Friday controversially rescheduling the race for October 30, F1 chief executive Ecclestone seemed to favour that decision being taken.

But the 80-year-old Briton has now isolated president Jean Todt by urging the teams group FOTA to write their letter, demanding a new vote of the World Motor Sport Council, and now coming to the obvious conclusion that F1 must stay away for now.

"Hopefully we can return in the future, but of course it’s not on," Ecclestone told BBC Sport.

"The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants — they’re the facts."

The FIA did not immediately comment.