The FIA has given the Bahrain Grand Prix officials an additional month to decide whether it will be possible to hold the race on a new date in 2011.
The event was originally postponed from its planned slot as the season-opener due to the political unrest in the state, but organizers always hoped that the situation would improve sufficiently for the race to take place later in the year.
The FIA had initially given the Bahrain authorities until yesterday (May 1) to indicate whether the race could be run this year. But last week Bernie Ecclestone called for Bahrain to be given more time, telling Reuters that "we need to wait a little bit to see exactly how progress is made." It now seems that the governing body agrees with Eccletone's stance as it has announced a new deadline of June 3 for Bahrain to report back.
"The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, has granted the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit an extension until June 3, date of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Barcelona," said an FIA statement. "This decision was taken after consultation with the relevant Bahraini authorities and Formula One Management, the international promoter."
The Bahrain organizers issued a statement over the weekend saying that they were keen to hold the race as soon as possible, but without committing to whether a 2011 rescheduling would be possible.