Setting the scene for Bahrain

Perhaps it was inevitable that Formula 1's arrival in Bahrain would represent something of a damp squib for those anticipating having to dodge Molotov cocktails and petrol bombs from the moment they walked out of the airport.

Aside from a car containing Force India personnel getting caught in a skirmish between protesters and the police while returning from the track yesterday, few have had any problems... so far. But that's not to say that this felt like any other pre-grand prix Thursday.

Those of a tabloid disposition would probably characterise the paddock climate as one of fear, with F1 personnel corralled at the track afraid for their safety. That's not what's happening right now and nobody is cowering in the corner terrified about setting foot outside the circuit.

But while that would be a false impression, it's fair to say that the feeling of business as usual is tempered by an air of caution. It's not so much about the situation as it stands now, but more about what might be to come. After all, the first proper day of the grand prix weekend isn't until Friday.

With threats of days of rage (one, two or three of them, depending on who you listen to), nobody is assuming that things will continue to be relatively quiet. Nor are people assuming that they are seeing everything that's going on in the island kingdom or that there isn't a very clear anti-race protest movement in Bahrain.

Reports of further protests today convinced those continuing to stick their heads in the sand of that, even if they didn't see them first-hand.

Of course, the safety of F1 personnel themselves is only part of the equation. Quite what effect the race going ahead might have out of sight of the grand prix paddock is also a matter of much speculation and a very real worry. With a catalogue of protests planned from today onwards, it's a situation that is going to evolve as the weekend goes on.

Right now, the situation is calm, but with an air of discomfort that probably won't fade until Sunday's race is in the history books and paddock personnel are jetting back to Europe. Last night's incident involving Force India crew has only added to what is perhaps best described as a 'casual unease' right now, rather than anything more dramatic.

Publicly, the united front continues to be presented to the world. The drivers and teams re-iterate at every opportunity that they can only be guided by the FIA and that security arrangements have been satisfactory so far. GPDA chairman Pedro de la Rosa said as much earlier, although news of the Force India car's close call with a molotov cocktail came as a surprise to him when AUTOSPORT raised it earlier today.

De la Rosa, like every other driver, emphasised that he was treating this as a normal race weekend. The situation in Bahrain remained the elephant in the room, but when asked directly most opted to disregard it. A few made hints that they were far from happy, particularly about last night's petrol bomb, but by and large they were determined to keep out of the debate in public. It's pointless to waste time quoting them here, but the vast majority went down the line of being guided by the FIA and being sportsmen here to do a job.

Privately, of course, some were a little more direct. There are at least a few drivers that are deeply uneasy at being put into this situation. Some even, despite their public utterances, do have very clear opinions on Bahrain that extend beyond their own immediate safety.

For all that, there is a race weekend to be looked forward to. After a stunning Chinese Grand Prix, there were plenty of questions about what effect the higher track temperatures would have to tyre use, not to mention Sebastian Vettel confirming that he would be switching back to the latest-generation Red Bull exhaust package for this weekend.

But in the circumstances, the usual pre-weekend chatter didn't seem to matter so much. There is much more at stake than 25 points this weekend, after all. And not just for those within the F1 paddock.