Iran

[markfarrell9572]

According to BBC sport's gossip Iran is looking to get on to the F1 calendar in the future. Would it not be damaging for F1 to go to a middle eastern country with appalling human rights records, and a complete lack of democracy?

Oh hang on.... Bernard Charles Ecclestone doesn't give a flying f*** about human right or democracy or morals, as long as Bernard Charles Ecclestone can make a pound or two.

[Jugirl]

If they do go to Iran will it be like Top Gear and they all have to wear bullet proof vests??

Ju

Ps if this is the case can Bernie's go missing??

[David]

We have a race in China already, say no more.

[John S]

They will have to join quite a queue then Mark so it's a long long way off, that's even if it ever happens.

Anyway world sport should try to stay away from politics, different sections of the world have their own agendas.  The standard western view is not necessarily a good democratic model, even if our leaders and media love to claim that it is.

[markfarrell9572]

Its idealistic to say politics and sport shouldn't mix.  A lot of regimes use big sporting events to promote their countries, and by extension their regimes.  I realise too that no country has a perfect human rights record and each country has its flaws, but no sport needs to be used as a marketing tool for a despotic regime that doesn't believe in human rights.

Yeah I know F1 went to the USA during G.W. Bush's presidency

[Ian]

In the UK we have a perfect human rights record, if you are a criminal or an extremist.

[cosworth151]

Here's a report on it:

http://www.racer.com/formula-1-in-iran/article/211396/?DCMP=EMC-RACER_DAILY

They will have to join quite a queue then Mark so it's a long long way off, that's even if it ever happens.

Give him a big enough bag o' swag and Bernie will always let you jump the queue.

[Dare]

I used to think sports,religion, and politics don't mix,then with
the invent of the internet I'd have to include forums and politics too

No better way to start senseless arguing IMO,but that's
only my thoughts

[Jericoke]

I used to think sports,religion, and politics don't mix,then with
the invent of the internet I'd have to include forums and politics too

No better way to start senseless arguing IMO,but that's
only my thoughts

Come now Dare.  Your arguments are never senseless!

At least, no more senseless than your other posts...

I'd oppose a Persian GP on the simple grounds of it's an inconvenient time for me.

[Ian]

I'll get up to watch the GP's no matter what time they are, of course it's easier now I'm retired and don't have to worry about work. 

[Alianora La Canta]

By the time there's a space on the calender the politics will probably be sorted...

[cosworth151]

I used to think sports,religion, and politics don't mix,then with
the invent of the internet I'd have to include forums and politics too

No better way to start senseless arguing IMO,but that's
only my thoughts

F1 has more than enough internal politics of its own. It doesn't need any more from the outside world.

And I thought F1 IS a religion!