Imagine the 2015 calendar only consisting of Tilke tracks. Just go back 10 years, then we only had one Tilke track (Sepang) and we still had classics like Imola and A1-Ring. The calendar is loosing all its charm and character it once had.

Except in 2005 there was also Istanbul, Bahrain and Shanghai but no A1-Ring.

Except in 2005 there was also Istanbul, Bahrain and Shanghai but no A1-Ring.

In an interview with the Guardian, the nameless team principal said he could not envisage the race going ahead without serious security measures in place.

"I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain," he said. "If I'm brutally frank, the only way they can pull this race off without incident is to have a complete military lock-down there. And I think that would be unacceptable, both for Formula One and for Bahrain. But I don't see any other way they can do it."

One concern had been that the teams would not be able to insure their staff and the millions of dollars of equipment while in the country, and the team principal talking to the Guardian said it was the safety of the staff that was really worrying the team bosses.

"We're all hoping the FIA calls it off," he added. "From a purely legal point of view, in terms of insurance and government advice, we are clear to go. But what we find worrying is that there are issues happening every day. I saw an interview with a human rights activist on BBC World, and he said that there would be demonstrations and that they would be peaceful. But that is the way all demonstrations start off.

"Other team principals are going through the same worries. I spent all last week making sure the insurances are right so I can reassure the teams. I've sent out an email to our legal department to make sure all our employees are covered for acts of terrorism and civil disorder while travelling to, during and coming back from the Bahrain GP.

"We have a lot of people. Our first and foremost priority has to be our employees. And their families. That's what concerns us most, even though we've not said anything about it. It seems to me that while there has been some political progress in Bahrain they're not quite ready. The best thing would be for the race to be postponed until later in the year, or even cancelled.

"But that is a decision that must be made by the FIA, FOM [Formula One Management] and the commercial rights holder. I never anticipated a decision being made until the week before China. I believe Jean Todt is in China, which is interesting."

Is it not a bit late in the day to be cancelling or postponing the race now? I'm sure there's going to be fans who've made travel plans as well as the teams. Personally unless the rumour about the cancellation being embargoed (another thing I dont understand) is true then I think it'll probably go ahead.

Everyone got excited about the finish of the 2005 race with Micheal hunting down Fernando, but due to the lack of passing opportunities I knew he wouldn't get by and wondered what all the fuss was about..

but 10 years ago was 2002, not 2005.

Imola post-Senna was still a good track untill they ruined the Variante Alta. But I'd love to see a race with the current cutting of Variante Bassa.

We've no way we can force people to go there. Commercially they have to go, but whether they decide to or not is up to them. I've had no-one say anything other than 'we're going to be racing in Bahrain

It's because they got charged a fortune to host a race in the middle of nowhere.