Mark Webber ready to race in Bahrain

Formula One's teams and drivers have not been noted for voicing their views on the record about next week's controversial race in Bahrain, which looks more likely to happen by the day.

Yesterday they were back ducking questions, hiding behind prepared team statements or declining to comment at all. So it is to Mark Webber's credit that he spoke up, and so eloquently and thoughtfully, on an extremely delicate issue.

With the FIA expected to give the race a green light in the wake of talks today between the teams and Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, Red Bull's Australian driver said that, unlike last year, he was ready to race in the island kingdom.

"If we have a choice I want to race, and I would like to go there and do that," he said. "But you cannot ignore the fact there are a lot of good people in our sport and all of them have in the back of their minds that we want it to go down smoothly and we don't want to be involved with the situation that's out there."

Webber was speaking for many when he described his feelings of apprehension; his is not the only inbox or Twitter timeline to have been clogged up with disturbing images, videos and reports.

"I have tried to watch the news to get the most balanced view that I can possibly get without getting too corrupted by false information," Webber said. "But I've been constantly reminded [about Bahrain] on Twitter.

"If it wasn't for social networking it would be interesting to see what the situation would be but we can only go on what the FIA is reading into the situation. Obviously we are putting an immense amount of trust - and by 'we' I don't mean the drivers, I mean you guys, the photographers, the media, the catering staff, everybody - going to and from that track each day, competing, and having a normal grand prix weekend. That is what we would all love to see."

Webber, 35, said that Red Bull had planned extra security for the Bahrain weekend, but added: "I accept that not everyone can have that and that doesn't make me feel comfortable."

His concerns were reflected in Westminster, where the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Bahrain published an open letter calling on Ecclestone to cancel the race.

"Bahrain is currently in the throes of a pro-democracy uprising which the Al Khalifa regime is trying to stifle," read the missive, which was signed by 18 MPs and three Lords. "The F1 grand prix would enable the hereditary dictators to pretend that it is business as usual, which is not the case for the majority of the people.

"The drivers, sponsors and fans of Formula One surely would not wish to be seen to endorse a state that lacks basic standards of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Accordingly, we hope you will cancel this event."

Meanwhile, unrest in the island kingdom continues to simmer. The youth group of the 'Revolution of February 14' has called for "three days of rage" over the grand prix weekend, while on Wednesday night violence spilt over again as "hundreds" of sword-wielding Sunni Muslims allegedly roamed a Shiite village beating up residents in retaliation for a bomb attack that injured seven policemen on Monday.

The latest developments prompted the White House to issue a statement condemning the violence and professing to be "deeply concerned" by the increasing polarisation of society.

Both Ecclestone and the FIA, whose elusive president, Jean Todt, was expected to arrive in China this evening, nevertheless said that barring anything drastic happening over the next few days the grand prix would be going ahead as planned.

Webber, the only driver to speak out last year prior to the race being cancelled in the wake of violent civil unrest, said he felt a responsibility to get his views across to the public.

"We are all human," he explained. "We all have morals, irrespective of whether we're sportsmen or sportswomen. Trying to give a fair and correct position on Bahrain with you guys is something I try to do. You want to get it right. It is an unusual position for a grand prix driver to be put in."

And he concluded that, with so many vested interests, he hoped the final decision would be taken for the right reasons. "We all know why it might have dragged a bit," he said. "F1 is like that. There's a lot of funding and finances that have come from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and the Middle East.

"They're very excited about F1 and they clearly want to give it another go. Let's see if it works."