May Day deadline to confirm Bahrain F1 grand prix plans

Organisers of the postponed Bahrain Formula One grand prix have been given until 1st May to decide whether or not they will be able to stage the race later in the 2011 calendar.
The season-opening race was originally scheduled to take place this coming Sunday, but the Kingdom of Bahrain last month withdrew from hosting the opening round due to the instability caused by a political uprising in the country. The opening race of the campaign will now take place on 27th March in Melbourne.
However, following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris on Tuesday, motorsport's governing body, the FIA, released a statement to confirm that the Bahrain Motor Federation has been instructed "to communicate by 1st May at the latest if the Bahrain Grand Prix can be organised in 2011."
Formula One Management (FOM) Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has previously indicated his willingness to seek a new date for the Bahrain race, and last week was reported as saying "if they want the race then we want to be able to supply it for them. If there is peace in Bahrain, we will be there."
A release on the FOM website stated "on 1st May Bahrain's Crown Prince ï¾ HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa ï¾ is expected to inform the FIA about the possibility of hosting a race in the country, and then together with Formula One Management, the FIA will make a final decision about a new slot for the race during the 2011 season."
The statement added "Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone had hoped a new date could be settled on before the season got underway, but given the circumstances, it was mutually agreed that a final decision would be made in May."