Organisers of the postponed Bahrain Formula One grand prix have been given until May 1 to decide whether or not they will be able to stage the race later in the 2011 calendar.

The season-opening race was originally scheduled to take place this coming Sunday, but the Kingdom of Bahrain last month withdrew from hosting the opening round due to the instability caused by a political uprising in the country. The opening race of the campaign will now take place on March 27 in Melbourne, Australia.

However, following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris on Tuesday, motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, released a statement to confirm that the Bahrain Motor Federation has been instructed “to communicate by May 1 at the latest if the Bahrain Grand Prix can be organised in 2011”.

Formula One Management (FOM) chief executive officer Bernie Ecclestone has previously indicated his willingness to seek a new date for the Bahrain race, and last week he said: “If they want the race then we want to be able to supply it for them. If there is peace in Bahrain, we will be there.”

A release on the FOM website stated: “On May 1 Bahrain’s Crown Prince – HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa – is expected to inform the FIA about the possibility of hosting a race in the country, and then together with Formula One Management, the FIA will make a final decision about a new slot for the race during the 2011 season.”

The statement added: “Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone had hoped a new date could be settled on before the season got underway, but given the circumstances, it was mutually agreed that a final decision would be made in May.”

Source: Sport Business