F1 in Bahrain 'a good decision' says Prost

Jul.3 (GMM) Four-time former world champion Alain Prost has admitted hindsight proves it was a "good decision" for Formula One to race in Bahrain earlier this year.

Alain Prost

Photo by: xpb.cc

But the great Frenchman, whose record of 51 wins was eclipsed only by Michael Schumacher, admits that in the days and weeks before the highly controversial event in the troubled Gulf kingdom, the right course was not so clear.

"I remember in 1985 when we went to South Africa, as a human and a driver you were attacked because you were there," 57-year-old Prost, referring to apartheid, told the Telegraph at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

"The main thing is, is it worse not to go? Or is it better to go and try and help people to make things more normal?

"I am in the middle because I did not have all the information," Prost said.

He said he actually sympathised with both sides of the argument, but ultimately decided not to go to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

"To be honest I didn't want to," said Prost, "because with all the controversy it's better to be outside.

"But I don't want to say we shouldn't have been there or we should have gone there.

"I think, in the end, when everything went well, you can say 'ok, it was a good decision'," he smiled.