FIA president sidesteps row over Bahrain rescheduling

The former Ferrari boss refused to answer any questions about Bahrain at an ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) press conference in Le Mans to promote the new FIA World Endurance Championship.

According to the Twitter account of one media representative who was present at the press conference, Todt was asked whether he felt Formula 1's image had been damaged by the situation.

However, the Frenchman insisted he was there to talk about the new series, stating he would speak "later" on the matter, only to leave without doing so.

Last Friday, Todt and the World Motor Sport Council announced the race would be reinstated on the calendar on 30 October, taking the place of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.

The backlash that followed stunned Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, with former FIA president Max Mosley stating that the changes could not be made without the unanimous approval of all the teams.

The Formula 1 Teams' Association, that oversees 11 of the marques with the exception of Hispania Racing, wrote a letter to the FIA, Ecclestone, and the Bahrain International Circuit informing them they were not prepared to race in Bahrain.

That prompted Ecclestone to state the race was now "not on" on the basis that "the schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants - they're the facts."

However, confusion continues to reign because, on the official FIA calendar on the world governing body's website, Bahrain is down as 30 October, with India given a confirmed date of 11 December.

Ecclestone has come under fire for the u-turn, with the decision described as hypocritical.

Nabeel Kanoo, a Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry board member and head of its tourism committee, said: "We were really optimistic after the event had been re-scheduled to take place in October.

"Now that it might not be happening it's a real blow, a shameful decision and smacks of hypocrisy. There was no reason to consider cancelling it."

Speaking to the Gulf Daily News, Kanoo added: "Mr Ecclestone, of course, has the final say but, in spite of him, we will move on.

"Whatever happens we will not be discouraged with this and reiterate we are solidly behind our leadership and support its call for a national dialogue."