Force India backs decision to go ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix

The Silverstone-based team is considering withdrawing from second free practice in Bahrain so its personnel can return to their hotels early - to avoid the possibility of trouble on the journey home.

Four members of its staff were caught up in a clash between protestors and police on Wednesday night - with a Molotov cocktail landing near their car. That incident has resulted in two team members returning home because they no longer wished to stay in Bahrain.

Although the situation has heightened concerns in the paddock about safety, Fernley says he feels the FIA was still correct to stick to its guns that the Bahrain GP should go ahead.

When asked if he was disappointed about the way events had panned out with talk in the build-up to the event that safety was good enough, he said: "With all due respect, I don't think the FIA nor the Bahrain authorities have said that safety is 100 per cent guaranteed.

"We all knew that there is a very slight risk with coming here. [But] that risk is worthwhile taking, if it puts the platform in place for debate to be able to get Bahrain into a healthy position - and our team are very prepared to do that.

"But we have to do it within the confines of making sure we have a crew committed to our programmes, which we have today."

The FIA issued a statement over the Chinese GP weekend saying that it was happy about safety levels in the Gulf state.

"Based on the current information the FIA has at this stage, it is satisfied that all the proper security measures are in place for the running of a Formula One World Championship event in Bahrain," it said.