FORMULA ONE:THE LEADER of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has given assurances no one within Formula One will be harmed this weekend.

Nabeel Rajab was speaking as he conducted the latest pro-democracy and anti-Formula One protest in a suburb of capital Manama ahead of this weekend’s controversial grand prix.

With riot police yards away carrying shields, batons and teargas guns, Rajab expressed his anger at the FIA and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone over their decision to push ahead with the race.

The FIA’s primary concern, however, has always been with regard to safety, with motor sport’s world governing body on Saturday declaring their satisfaction that “all proper security measures are in place”.

There have always been fears, though, a dissident group such as the Coalition of the Youth of the Feb 14 Revolution, who have declared “three days of anger” this weekend, would use F1 as a platform to further their cause.

With chants of “Down, down Hamad” (the ruling king) serving as a backdrop, Rajab said: “Nobody will hurt them. No group in Bahrain will ever harm you guys.

“Foreigners are respected amongst our people, especially western journalists because through you we can speak to the outside world.

“Nobody will harm anybody, no one in a Formula One team, nobody. Yes, they are angry at the sport, but it’s not personal, it’s about politics.”

Although Ecclestone has long insisted the sport has no place in any country’s politics, the suggestion on this occasion is it is playing a pivotal role.

Racing under the slogan “UniF1ed – One Nation In Celebration”, when it is clear the kingdom is anything but unified given the daily demonstrations that occur, is using F1 as a political tool.