Virgin welcome move to sideline Bahrain GP

The cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix has been greeted as a sensible move by Formula 1 teams and has afforded them what Marussia Virgin Racing’s John Booth describes as ‘breathing space’.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Feb 2011, 10:30 BST

Anti-government protests in the gulf region forced the cancellation of the season-opener this week, with the 2011 campaign now set to commence in Australia on March 27.

Booth, team principal at Dinnington-based Virgin, said: “It’s very sad.

“It was a great event last year with it being our first race, but in the circumstances there was no choice. They’ve got big problems out there and shouldn’t have to be worrying about a race.

“What it has done is make our life easier. We were full on to get back from Barcelona on Monday night and then pack the freight up ready to head out to sea on Saturday. So it’s given us a bit of breathing space.”

Virgin will return to Barcelona for testing in the weekend originally reserved for the Bahrain GP with Booth confident the encouraging signs will continue.

He said: “We’ve probably done as many miles as anybody, with the exception of Ferrari.”