Bahrain Grand Prix: Bernie Ecclestone refuses to call off race amid security fears

• F1 supremo says any decision is Bahrain’s to make

• Force India withdraw from second free practice session over security fears

• Labour leader Ed Miliband calls for race to be cancelled

• Cancellation would encourage extremists - Crown Prince of Bahrain

In the wake of Force India personnel being caught up in a petrol-bomb incident en route to Manama from the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday, Sauber have now confirmed members of their staff also witnessed trouble last night.

Sauber, though, have not followed the path trodden by Force India whose drivers did not compete in the second practice session.

In terms of safety, deputy team principal Bob Fernley decided it would be safer for his staff to leave the track in the comfort of daylight rather than risk returning to their hotel in the dark.

But despite the obvious dangers, Ecclestone insists any decision to cancel the race is out of his hands, and instead has passed the buck to the Bahrainis.

“I can’t call this race off. Nothing to do with us. We’ve an agreement to be here, and we’re here,” said Ecclestone.

“The national sporting authority in this country can call the race off. You can ask the FIA if they can.”

Prime Minister David Cameron resisted pressure to call for the cancellation of the grand prix, insisting it was a matter for the Formula One authorities whether the race should go ahead on Sunday.

Labour leader Ed Miliband added his voice today to demands for the race to be called off, and urged the Prime Minister to do the same.

Mr Miliband said it would send out the wrong signal for the Grand Prix to go ahead at a time of protests over human rights abuses in the Gulf kingdom.

But the Prime Minister said it was “a matter for Formula One”, adding: “It’s important that peaceful protests are allowed to go on.”

The Crown Prince of Bahrain, meanwhile, feels cancelling the race would send out the wrong message and “empower extremists”.

Prince Salman said: “I think this race should continue because it is indeed a very big event for this country, important economically, socially.

“Political parties from the whole spectrum, both conservative and opposition, have welcomed the race.

“And it was only a few politicians who made those comments and it certainly doesn’t represent the entire British political system.

“I also think cancelling the race just empowers extremists.

“For those of us trying to navigate a way out of this political problem, having the race allows us to build bridges across communities, to get people working together.

“It allows us to celebrate our nation. It is an idea that is positive, not one that is divisive.

“So I actually think having the race has prevented extremists from doing what they think they need to do out of the world’s attention.”