London: Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has revealed the under-threat Bahrain Grand Prix could be moved to a later date in the calendar if pro-democracy demonstrations lead to it being postponed.
The world championship season's curtain-raiser in Manama on March 13 has been placed in doubt after days of unrest in the island kingdom where the army has clashed with anti-Government demonstrators.
The unrest in the small Gulf state is part of a wave of protests that have rippled across North Africa and the Middle East since the revolt that ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January.
Ecclestone will leave a decision on whether it is safe enough for the race to go ahead to Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa.
Asked when a decision on the race's future would be made, Ecclestone told BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "Probably Tuesday.”
"I haven't spoken to the Crown Prince this morning so I don't know what's happened there. If anybody's going to sort it out he's the guy to do it.”
"He would decide whether or not it's safe for us to be there.”
"Let's wait until Tuesday and see if this one's going to take place before we decide what to do. Maybe we could postpone Bahrain or run it later in the year."
Ecclestone ruled out the possibility of another promoter stepping in to put on the race in a different country on March 13, explaining that the timescale was too short.
"Well they're probably not ready, just to pop these things on just like that," he said.
"Let's hope it will be all right as it's already scheduled."
The GP2 Series race scheduled to take place in Bahrain this week has already been cancelled after pro-democracy protests that have led to deadly clashes with police.