Bahrain’s hopes of staging Formula One action this year appear to have disintegrated after the Gulf state declared a three-month state of emergency on Tuesday.

The Sakhir event, originally scheduled to open the season on March 13, was postponed after a political uprising in the country, although Formula One Management and the sport’s governing body, the FIA, have held out hope of returning to Bahrain later in the year.

Organisers of the Bahrain 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. However, following fresh protests and the new state of emergency, it seems highly unlikely that the Kingdom of Bahrain will be able to give assurances about the grand prix, particularly as FIA president Jean Todt implied on Tuesday that the deadline for a decision would not be extended.

“As you all know, on advice from the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) we have had to skip the inaugural grand prix in that country due to severe social unrest,” read a statement from FIA president Jean Todt on Tuesday.

“We have asked our Bahraini colleagues to inform us by May 1 on whether the race can take place,” he added. “We wish them well in their ongoing attempts to resolve their issues.”

On Monday, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were called in to help restore order in Bahrain and guard key facilities after more political protests erupted.