Todt tells Ecclestone to propose Bahrain solution

The FIA seemed ready on Thursday to overturn its decision to take formula one back to Bahrain in 2011.

Following the withdrawal of Bernie Ecclestone’s support for the Bahrain rescheduling, F1’s governing body published letter correspondence between the FIA and the teams association FOTA.

FOTA’s letter, signed by chairmen Martin Whitmarsh and Eric Boullier, said the new calendar was "unrealistic" for logistical and insurance reasons.

The letter also said F1 should only return to Bahrain "once the security conditions have been fully re-established".

FIA president Jean Todt responded by writing that it is the responsibility of F1’s commercial rights holder, represented by Ecclestone, to "set the calendar and submit it to the FIA for approval".

"The FIA always has at heart the smooth running of the championship and the interests of the teams, and is always prepared to address any issues, however difficult," added the Frenchman.

"I have listened to your last-minute objections and have asked the commercial rights holder (Ecclestone) to re-examine his calendar proposal, and if necessary, to resubmit a revised proposal to the World Council."

FOTA’s letter: http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2011/Documents/letter-from-fota-070611.pdf

FIA’s answer: http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressreleases/f1releases/2011/Documents/letter-to-fota-090611.pdf